Won
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sohail Aslam | Out | 2 | ||||
| Alex Wright | Out | 101 | ||||
| Jamie Boshier | Out | 4 | ||||
| Mike Baker | Out | 7 | ||||
| Jack Medhurst | Out | 11 | ||||
| Shawn Francis | Out | 2 | ||||
| Neil Forrest | Not Out | 34 | ||||
| Elliott Handworker | Out | 0 | ||||
| Gerry Robins | Not Out | 2 | ||||
| Nigel Jackson | DNB | |||||
| Dan Medhurst | DNB | |||||
| Extras | ||||||
| Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sohail Aslam | 8.0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 4.50 | |
| Mike Baker | 8.0 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 4.50 | |
| Jack Medhurst | 6.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 5.67 | |
| Neil Forrest | 2.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 | |
| Nigel Jackson | 8.0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 2.25 | |
| Dan Medhurst | 8.0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 3.50 | |
| Extras | ||||||
| Fielder | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Forrest | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nigel Jackson | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Medhurst | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Brand new season, brand new enthusiasm, brand new square, brand new scorebook to make a mess of – oops, sorry Thing.
A cold day and threatening skies did nothing to dampen the start to the season. The pitch looked green, the outfield slow and having won the toss Skipper Handworker decided to bat.
Up-and-coming star Alex Wright then proceeded to bat with confidence and technique which belied his age. Opening the innings he never looked in any difficulty and displaying a great tool-box of various strokes, although particularly strong through square on the off, went on to score his maiden century – a wonderful start to the season which augurs well for his future playing career. Alex almost carried his bat and was given stout support from the lower order, particularly Neil Forrest who chipped in with a useful 34 n.o..
Although Sonning started with only 9 players Shaun Francis, who thought he had come to watch, was pressed into service and cut a dashing figure in blue and grey in the outfield; unfortunately his inning did nothing to improve his average but doubtless he is now scoring double centuries in the Caribbean.
A word of note should be made of Skipper Handworker who managed to kick the fines off to a great start by playing on for a Golden – nice one El.
The Sonning innings closed for 193 for 6 at the end of the 40 overs.
During the tea interval the troops arrived in the shape of Dan Medhurst who had managed to drag himself away from watching some silly football team who had paraded through the streets of Reading in an open-top bus; obviously they can’t afford one with a roof.
The Denham chase started but immediately stuttered when Neil Forrest took a catch in the gulley which had him ecstatic. Low to his right it was the type of catch that would have had the TV pundits replaying for hours to decide whether it was ball-and-ground. Some players were unsure, the batsman was unsure, the umpires weren’t consulted, Neil was sure and the batsman sportingly walked.
Denham then got a little bogged won under the attack from Dan Medhurst (3-82) and Neil Jackson (1-18) and were well behind the run rate at the 20-over stage. With the change of bowling Denham decided they had to push the pace a little but Sonning had already signalled that every run would be hard fought and a timely reminder was given with a run-out (D Medhurst). Denham’s technique was to keep the score board ticking over by pushing clever singles but ultimately the task was beyond them and the Sonning bowlers shut them out and the innings closed on 177 for 7.
Sonning won by 16 runs.
