1st XI vs Sulhamstead & Ufton

Sonning's Innings Cut Short as Rain Washes Out Clash at Sulhamstead

Sonning 1st XI's visit to The Watson Oval ended in disappointment as their Thames Valley Cricket League Division 2A match against Sulhamstead & Ufton was abandoned after just one completed innings. The visitors were dismissed for 140 from their allotted 40 overs before rain intervened, denying both sides the opportunity for a result.

After losing the toss and being put into bat, Sonning endured a difficult start. Captain Peter Higginbottom was caught by Mursaleen Sadiqi off Matthew Gill for just one, and when Connor Wardlaw departed shortly after for a brisk 12, which included a four and a six, Sonning were struggling at 20-2.

The situation deteriorated further when Muhammad Ayub was caught behind without scoring, leaving Sonning precariously placed at 20-3. Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha and Mohammed Zahid then combined to steady the innings with a vital 45-run partnership, both contributing 20 runs, before Zahid was caught by Mursaleen Sadiqi off Gill's bowling.

Indeveer Sahota provided the backbone of Sonning's middle order with a resilient 27 from 51 deliveries, including two boundaries and a six. His 33-run partnership with Ankit Sharma (7) helped push the total towards respectability before Stuart Hornby claimed Sahota as one of his four victims, caught behind by Ashan Lokuketiya.

Daniel Longridge's 12 and Ella Phillips' unbeaten 4 helped Sonning reach 140 before Aadil Khan was the last man to fall, caught by Matthew Gill off Hornby without scoring. The Sonning innings featured 34 extras, including 28 wides, which proved to be a significant contribution to their total.

The Sulhamstead & Ufton bowling attack was led admirably by Matthew Gill (4-31 from 10 overs) and Stuart Hornby (4-23 from 6 overs), while Finn Mercer delivered an economical spell of 2-18 from his 10 overs, including four maidens. Captain Rehaan Samdani was expensive, conceding 33 runs from his eight overs, with 13 of those coming from wides.

Unfortunately for both teams, the weather deteriorated before Sulhamstead & Ufton could begin their reply, forcing the match to be abandoned. Each side took seven points from the contest, reflecting the no-result outcome in this win/lose format fixture.