4th XI vs Wokingham

Astwood's Sonning Side Secures Victory in Run Chase at Leighton Park

Sonning 4th XI successfully chased down Wokingham's total of 186 with four wickets to spare in their Thames Valley Cricket League Division 10A clash at Leighton Park School on Saturday. A combination of disciplined bowling and measured batting ensured Sonning reached their target with 15 balls remaining.

Wokingham won the toss and elected to bat, but struggled early as Toby Fitton removed the hosts' captain Dersh Patel for just 6 runs. Jason Stotesbury anchored the Wokingham innings with a patient 74 from 106 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and one six. Stotesbury formed a crucial 78-run partnership with Michael Le Roux (27) for the fourth wicket that gave Wokingham's innings stability after they had slipped to 28-3.

Sonning's bowling attack shared the wickets, with Aahaan Sharma the standout performer taking 3-33 from his six overs. Toby Fitton (2-29) bowled economically, while James Travers (1-13), Jai Sharma (1-19), Stephen Pollard (1-45), and Kabir Dave (1-35) all chipped in with valuable contributions. Wokingham accelerated late in their innings with Paul Tatum hitting 17 off 20 balls before being caught off Travers' bowling, helping the home side reach 186 all out in 39.3 overs.

In reply, captain Charles Astwood led from the front with 43 runs from 62 balls, forming a solid 48-run opening partnership with James Travers (22). When Sonning suffered a brief wobble, losing three quick wickets - Aahaan Sharma and Maaz Salman for single figures, and Travers for 22 - Astwood steadied the ship alongside Yousef Iqbal, adding 60 valuable runs for the fourth wicket.

Iqbal played fluently for his 34 from 46 deliveries, hitting six boundaries before falling to Paul Tatum, who finished with figures of 2-33. Michael Le Roux posed the greatest threat to Sonning's chase, claiming three wickets for 31 runs from his 5.3 overs, including the crucial scalps of Travers, Sharma, and Salman.

After Astwood was run out for 43 with the score on 121, Kabir Dave provided momentum with a quickfire 22 from 22 balls, including four boundaries. Toby Fitton then took control of the chase with a composed 24 not out, and together with wicketkeeper Joshua Jones (18 not out), guided Sonning home with an unbroken 32-run partnership. Jones hit three boundaries in his 13-ball cameo as Sonning reached their target in the 38th over.

The victory moves Sonning up the Division 10A table, rewarding a complete team performance that saw contributions with both bat and ball across the side. Wokingham will rue their inability to convert Stotesbury's fine innings into a more imposing total, with their middle and lower order unable to build on the platform he provided.