Sunday 1s v TBC TBC

Bajpai's Classy 46 Anchors Sonning Sunday 1s to Comfortable Victory Over Calcot

Sonning Sunday 1s secured a convincing six-wicket win at King George's Field on 9th August, chasing down Calcot's total of 127 all out with relative comfort thanks to a composed innings from Peeush Bajpai, who struck 46 from 60 balls to steer the hosts home.

Calcot, having won the toss and elected to bat, made a brisk start through opener Ashish Mehrotra, who cracked 29 from 30 deliveries including six boundaries. His opening partnership of 33 with captain Veerendra Kolhar gave the visitors early momentum, but the innings quickly unravelled once Robert Jones found his rhythm. Jones was the pick of Sonning's seamers in the first innings, returning outstanding figures of 3-25 from his eight overs, including a maiden. He removed Mehrotra, trapped Ravi H lbw for 2, and then had TP Vallamshetty Vallamshetty caught for a golden duck to leave Calcot reeling at 53-4.

Captain Arun Raghavendra matched Jones's effectiveness at the other end, claiming 3-21 from seven overs with two maidens. He bowled Sai Pawan Ananthapuram, who had briefly threatened with 22 off 23 balls including five fours, before also dismissing Swapnil A (caught for 12) and Vivek Sharma (bowled for 2). The middle order's resistance crumbled as Calcot slipped from 73-5 to 105-8, with Kishan Akula chipping in with the wicket of Sandeep Madan, caught and bowled for 5.

A late flurry from Sonu Wilson, who finished unbeaten on 13 from just 10 balls, and Abhiramm Vallamsetty (8 from 11) added 21 for the ninth wicket and briefly lifted the total beyond 120. However, Elliot Gray wrapped up the tail in short order, dismissing Vallamsetty bowled and having Parag Wavale caught by Jones to finish with 2-7 from 1.5 overs as Calcot were bowled out for 127 in 27.5 overs. The 32 extras, including 18 byes, had significantly bolstered the visitors' total.

Sonning's reply began steadily if cautiously, with Kanishka Suriarachchi and Neil Jasti putting on 24 for the first wicket before Suriarachchi was bowled by Mehrotra for 3 off 25 balls. Jasti looked in fine touch, striking four boundaries in his knock of 26 from 39 deliveries, and his second-wicket stand of 27 with Bajpai laid a solid platform before he was caught by Ravi H off the bowling of Vivek Sharma with the score on 51.

Bajpai then took command of the chase. The experienced batsman played with authoritative timing, peppering the boundary with ten fours in an innings of 46 that was the backbone of Sonning's reply. His partnership of 42 with Bharat Rathod for the third wicket effectively killed the contest, taking the score from 51 to 93. Rathod contributed a patient 14 from 32 balls before being bowled by Ravi H, and Bajpai himself fell lbw to Mehrotra — who finished with 2-21 from 6.4 overs as Calcot's most threatening bowler — with the total on 119 and just nine runs needed.

Robert Jones, continuing his fine all-round afternoon, ensured there were no late alarms. The all-rounder struck an unbeaten 18 from 16 balls, dispatching four boundaries to guide Sonning past the target. Alongside Karthikeya Reddy, who finished not out on 3, Jones saw the hosts home to 128-4 in 29.4 overs, completing a thoroughly professional run chase that left five batsmen still padded up in the pavilion.