2nd XI v White Waltham 2nd XI

Sonning 2nd XI Fall Short as White Waltham Chase Down 141 with Ease

Sonning 2nd XI suffered a frustrating defeat at home to White Waltham in Division 6B of the Thames Valley Cricket League, bowled out for 140 before the visitors reached their target with six wickets in hand and 13 overs to spare.

After White Waltham won the toss and inserted Sonning, the home side found themselves under immediate pressure. Opener Mark Richards fell cheaply for 3, caught by Craig Bowley off Harvey Grout, before G Soames was trapped lbw by Jez Ellis for 7. Dan Anderson offered some resistance with 16, but when he was caught by Ali Damirchi off Ellis, Sonning were struggling at the top of the order. Jacob Fitton contributed 11 before being bowled by Richard West, who was proving a handful through the middle overs.

The most significant contribution came from Pc Burnett, who top-scored with 32 batting at number seven. Burnett and wicketkeeper D Rowe, who made 16, steadied the innings during a crucial middle-order passage before both fell to catches. Captain Gary Phillips added a useful 19 before being adjudged lbw to Jeff Brooker, but the lower order could not capitalise, and Sonning were dismissed for 140 in 37.4 overs, with Alex Rowe left unbeaten on 5.

White Waltham's bowling attack shared the wickets efficiently. Richard West was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-30 from his eight overs, while Jez Ellis (2-20 from eight overs with two maidens) and Jeff Brooker (2-18 from four overs) provided excellent support. Harvey Grout chipped in with 2-32, and Max Ring's economical spell of 0-11 from five overs helped maintain pressure throughout.

The chase began confidently for White Waltham as openers Ali Damirchi and captain Michael Chapman put on 57 for the first wicket. Chapman made 30 before being caught by Gary Phillips off the bowling of Mark Richards, and Damirchi followed shortly after for 29, caught off Alex Rowe, leaving the visitors 69 for 2.

Richards then produced a superb spell to give Sonning brief hope, dismissing Craig Bowley for a duck, bowled, and trapping Luke Scarborough lbw without scoring in quick succession. At 76 for 4, the match was momentarily in the balance, with Richards' figures reading an impressive 3-24 from eight overs, including two maidens.

However, Harvey Grout, who had already impressed with the ball, stepped up emphatically with the bat. His unbeaten 50, compiled in a composed and authoritative partnership with Nikhil Jathavedan (26 not out), guided White Waltham home without further alarm. The pair added an unbroken 69 for the fifth wicket, reaching the target of 141 in just 27 overs. It was a chastening afternoon for Sonning, with Richards' fine bowling spell the sole bright spot in a match that slipped away in the final quarter of the run chase.