2nd XI v Windsor 2nd XI

Mcloughlin's Classy Sixty Guides Sonning 2nd XI to Victory at Windsor

Sonning 2nd XI produced a composed run chase to defeat Windsor by five wickets in their Division 5B encounter at Home Park Cricket Ground on Saturday, overhauling a target of 139 with more than eleven overs to spare.

Windsor, having won the toss and elected to bat, endured a turbulent start as Sonning's opening bowlers struck early. Hatib Khan removed Vihaan Parashar for 13, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Mcloughlin, while Tim Hale was run out by Adil Malik for 11 after a brisk 25-run opening stand. At 25 for two, Windsor were wobbling, and when Khan had James Earnshaw caught off his own bowling for just one, the hosts had slumped to 27 for three.

Ghulam Abbas then applied further pressure with a miserly spell of 9-3-24-3, bowling Aarav Oberai for a duck after a 15-ball struggle and having Shaan Pall (11) and Chris Dixon (5) both caught by the ever-present Mcloughlin behind the stumps. At 75 for six, Windsor were in dire straits, but Steve Shaw remained a model of resistance at the other end.

Shaw found an able ally in George Smith, and the pair constructed a crucial seventh-wicket partnership of 50 that breathed life back into the Windsor innings. Shaw batted with patience and increasing authority, accumulating his runs from 74 deliveries with four boundaries in a mature knock. It was Duncan Parr who eventually broke the stand, having Smith stumped by Mcloughlin for 12, before the veteran dismantled the tail with devastating efficiency. Parr finished with remarkable figures of 3.5-1-4-4, claiming Shaw for 59, James Eaton lbw for one, and Gurpreet Chander caught — again by Mcloughlin — for nought as Windsor were bowled out for 138.

Mcloughlin's four catches behind the stumps and one stumping gave him five dismissals in the innings, an outstanding contribution with the gloves. He was far from finished, however, as he strode out to open Sonning's reply.

Promoted to the top of the order, Mcloughlin set about the chase with confidence, sharing a steady opening stand of 36 with Parr, who contributed four from 35 balls in an anchoring role before falling caught by Shaw off the bowling of Aarav Oberai. Dan Anderson then joined Mcloughlin for the match's defining partnership — 57 runs for the second wicket that put Sonning firmly in control. Anderson played sensibly for his 19 from 42 balls, but it was Mcloughlin who dominated, driving and cutting with precision as he raced to his half-century.

James Earnshaw proved Windsor's most potent threat with the ball, taking four for 36 from his nine overs, and he eventually removed Mcloughlin lbw for a superb 61 from 80 deliveries, an innings laced with eleven fours. Earnshaw also accounted for Anderson, Shenul Widanapathirana (17) and Raoul Harding (12), but by then the damage was done. With the score at 133 for five, Zain Haider arrived and struck an unbeaten 11 from just four balls, including two fours, to see Sonning home to 141 for five in 33.3 overs — a thoroughly professional away victory secured with plenty in reserve.