1st XI vs Slough

Kwatsha and Wardlaw Star as Sonning Secure Victory at Slough

Sonning 1st XI continued their strong form with a commanding 69-run victory over Slough at the Eddie Thompson Oval on Saturday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sonning posted an imposing 263-5 from their allotted 50 overs before dismissing the hosts for 194.

Sonning's innings was built on a solid foundation as captain Peter Higginbottom (29) and wicketkeeper Connor Wardlaw put on 81 for the first wicket. Wardlaw was particularly aggressive, smashing 56 from just 40 deliveries including 10 boundaries and a six before being caught by Syed Bukhari off the bowling of Yaqoot Rafiq.

Mohammed Zahid continued the momentum with a patient 49 from 88 balls, while Oliver Rowe (35) and Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha (39) maintained the scoring rate in the middle overs. Sam Haselgrove remained unbeaten on 27, with Rob Mosely (9 not out) providing late impetus as Sonning posted a competitive total. For Slough, Raghav Sharma (2-48) and Moaaz Ajaz (2-23) were the pick of the bowlers.

Slough's chase began disastrously as they lost three early wickets to Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha, who removed both openers and Bilal Tariq to reduce the hosts to 20-3. When Sameer Kulkarni fell for just 1, also to Kwatsha, Slough were in deep trouble at 37-4.

The hosts' innings was revived by a counter-attacking 82 from Syed Bukhari, who struck eight fours and five sixes in his 74-ball stay. He shared crucial partnerships of 66 with Sagar Chand (24) and 67 with Yaqoot Rafiq (25) to keep Slough's hopes alive.

However, Sonning captain Peter Higginbottom turned the tide by dismissing both Bukhari and Rafiq in a crucial spell that yielded 2-29 from six overs. Bobby Malik then cleaned up the tail with 3-25, including the wickets of Mohammed Ali Sheeraz, Gurunoor Sharma, and Raghav Sharma.

Kwatsha was the standout bowler for Sonning, finishing with excellent figures of 4-41 from his 10 overs, while Adil Malik chipped in with 1-56. The visitors' disciplined bowling display, backed by sharp fielding, ultimately proved too much for Slough as they were dismissed for 194 in the 43rd over, giving Sonning a convincing win in their Division 2B fixture.