1st XI vs Cove

Sonning Bundled Out for 109 in 70-Run Defeat at Cove

Sonning CC 1st XI suffered a comprehensive defeat in their Thames Valley Cricket League Division 2A fixture against Cove, falling 70 runs short of the hosts' total of 179 all out. Despite winning the toss and electing to field, Peter Higginbottom's side struggled with the bat after a disciplined bowling performance had restricted Cove to a manageable target.

Sonning's bowlers made early inroads with Mohammed Zahid (2-16) removing Cove captain Dubs Wood for just one run before dismissing Travis Bronstein for a 19-ball duck. Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha (2-25) maintained the pressure as Cove stuttered to 14-4, with Gavin Sinclair and Archie Smith managing just 7 and 1 respectively.

Keiran Wood led the recovery for the home side with a well-crafted 51 from 78 deliveries, striking nine boundaries during his innings. He shared a crucial 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Thomas Redhead (39) after Nick Randall had earlier contributed a patient 12 from 40 balls before falling LBW to Sonning skipper Higginbottom.

The Redhead brothers provided late resistance with Thomas (39) and Will (29) adding a valuable 50-run stand for the eighth wicket. Bobby Malik (2-20) and Ella Phillips (1-31) helped wrap up the Cove innings for 179 in the final over, with the visitors claiming all ten wickets.

Sonning's reply got off to a disastrous start with both openers dismissed without scoring. Dhruv Peshkar fell to Tom Robinson's bowling for a three-ball duck, caught by Nick Randall, while Muhammad Ayub was bowled by Thomas Redhead after facing just one delivery. When Mohammed Zahid was caught for 3, Sonning were reeling at 9-3.

Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha (28) and captain Peter Higginbottom (37 not out) briefly steadied the innings with a 35-run partnership, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Higginbottom battled valiantly, striking seven boundaries during his unbeaten 73-ball stay, but received minimal support from the lower order as Nick Randall (2-22) and Dubs Wood (2-10) worked through Sonning's batting lineup.

The visitors were eventually dismissed for 109 in the 40th over, with Sonning's final five wickets adding just 48 runs. The 70-run defeat leaves Higginbottom's side contemplating what might have been after their bowlers had initially done well to restrict the home team to a chaseable total.