1st XI vs Cove

Dominant Sonning Secure First Win with Clinical Bowling Display

Sonning Cricket Club's first XI kicked off their Division 2B campaign with a convincing 94-run victory over Cove at King George's Field on Saturday. After posting a competitive 233-4 from their 50 overs, Sonning's bowlers dismantled the visitors for just 139 in 36 overs to claim maximum points.

Batting first after losing the toss, Sonning built a solid platform through a measured 57-run opening partnership between captain Peter Higginbottom (24) and Mannu Rawat (53). Rawat's patient innings, containing nine boundaries from 82 deliveries, provided the backbone for Sonning's innings before he fell lbw to Ryan Filkins with the score on 111.

William Hibberdine's unbeaten 51 and a destructive 45 from Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha, including four sixes, accelerated Sonning's scoring in the latter stages. Their 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket proved crucial in lifting Sonning's total beyond 230, with Hibberdine remaining 51 not out from 65 balls. Ryan Filkins was Cove's most successful bowler with figures of 2-33 from his nine overs.

Cove's reply centered almost entirely around a brilliant 68 from Jerome Bossr, who struck 11 fours and a six in his counter-attacking 67-ball innings. Bossr dominated the scoring as wickets fell around him, contributing nearly half of his team's total before becoming Peter Higginbottom's only victim with the score on 87, caught by the bowler himself.

Mohammed Zahid spearheaded Sonning's bowling attack with 3-19 from seven overs, removing Jack Wilson, Jordan Finney, and Archie Smith in a devastating spell. Adil Malik matched Zahid's wicket tally with 3-24, while Kwatsha completed an excellent all-round performance with 2-25. Only William Redhead (16) and Chris Farmiloe (13 not out) offered meaningful resistance as Cove's innings subsided, handing Sonning a comprehensive victory in their league opener.