Draw
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan Parr | Not Out | 104 | ||||
| Oranzaid Nazir | Out | 18 | ||||
| Andy Benning | Out | 6 | ||||
| Latif Gohar | Out | 75 | ||||
| Anwar Ul Haq | Out | 3 | ||||
| Richard Harris | Out | 5 | ||||
| Abbas Ghulam | Out | 20 | ||||
| Nigel Thorpe | Out | 0 | ||||
| Richard Anderson | Not Out | 6 | ||||
| Mark Anderson | DNB | |||||
| Phil Swan | DNB | |||||
| Extras | ||||||
| Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latif Gohar | 10.0 | 0 | 54 | 2 | 5.40 | |
| Anwar Ul Haq | 10.0 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 5.00 | |
| Abbas Ghulam | 15.0 | 2 | 94 | 1 | 6.27 | |
| Richard Anderson | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 6.75 | |
| Phil Swan | 5.0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 7.60 | |
| Extras | ||||||
| Fielder | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Harris | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Top two finish all square after frantic finish
THERE is little to choose between Sonning and Ibis Mapledurham at the top of the Premier Division table and they proved to be inseparable last weekend.
In a thrilling climax, Sonning hit an all-run four off the very last ball to finish equal on 273-7 after second placed Ibis had posted 273-5 with Nazim Hussain unbeaten on 108.
Sonning opener Duncan Parr matched that with an undefeated 108 while Latif Gohar also hit an impressive 70 to help set up a frantic finish.
Sonning went into the game minus skipper Gary Phillips and vice captain Mark Richards, with Richard Anderson taking charge in their absence.
And Anderson could not remember a Sonning side conceding so many runs as Ibis powered their way to a daunting 273-5 with Hussain, Mohammed Rafi (78) and Mohammed Shafiq (37) dominating the innings
Anderson said: "We were under the cosh for the first half of the game as they really went for it and although they had some luck they deserved it. It was more down to their positive batting than bad bowling by us."
In reply, Sonning made sure they didn't lose early wickets and looked well set for victory on 210-2 with 10 overs remaining.
But, despite being without two key bowlers, Ibis fought back as skipper Zulfqar Ali took four scalps and with the help of a couple of crucial run-outs they reduced Sonning to 261-7 with one over remaining.
Needing 12 to win off the last six balls the stage was set for a nail-biting finish and by this stage, Ibis were a man short in the field after one of their players had to leasve early.
Duncan Parr, who had batted all the way through to record a gutsy century, was left facing the final ball with five runs needed to win.
Parr struck his shot to the mid-wicket boundary and after running two, two overthrows allowed Sonning to take advantage and tie the game as they ran a four.
Anderson said: "It should have only been two runs off the last ball but they lost the plot a bit and I wanted to run the fifth but by then Duncan was tired out. "It would have been a shame for either side to lose and I wish we could be involved in games like that every week."
He added: "We showed great character to come back and level the scores because it's not often this season that we've had to push ourselves."
Meanwhile, Ibis skipper Ali said: "Unfortunately I was two bowlers short and we ended up finishing the game with 10 players as one of the guys had to leave early.
"It was a great finish with them needing five off the last ball and a wild throw at the end added to the drama."
Ibis, who take on Mortimer West End this Saturday, certainly showed they are a match for the title favourites.
But despite closing the gap on the former champions to just over a point, skipper Ali is playing down their chances.
He added: "With this being our first season back in the Premier Division I am not expecting too much but we are doing okay so far."
Meanwhile, Sonning will have to be on their guard again this weekend when they make the short trip to fast improving Berkshire County Sports.
