Sonning Innings

for ( Overs)

Batsmen		Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Andy Sumner	Out	14
Richard Anderson	Out	0
Ian Boyton	Out	63
Cameron Gannon	Out	30
Richard Harris	Out	0
Abbas Ghulam	Out	11
Mark Anderson	Out	21
Dan Medhurst	Out	7
Ryan Pownall	Out	0
Phil Wilding	Not Out	2
Extras

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Richard Anderson	6.0	0	27	0	4.50
Ian Boyton	7.0	0	17	1	2.43
Cameron Gannon	10.0	2	41	4	4.10
Abbas Ghulam	14.0	2	33	3	2.36
Extras

Fielder	Catches	Run Outs	Stumpings
Andy Sumner	1	0	0
Cameron Gannon	1	0	0

Match Report

First time skipper JJ Harris was a relieved man on Saturday night as Sonning were given a real fright by near neighbours Redingensians. The day had not started well as an already under strength team was further weakened by the withdrawal of star batsman Mark Richards with a back injury. He has now been banned from any pre match bedroom antics.

Harris was still confident his team was strong enough and despite a green looking wicket had no hesitation in batting when winning the toss. He started to regret this when Richard Anderson, given a rare chance to show his class at the top of the innings, chipped his first ball (a wide full toss) straight to cover. Fellow opener Andy Sumner was soon out going for another big hit off persistent spinner Sainsbury, and the innings needed some stabilising. This came with a good partnership between Gannon and Boyton, who batted well for 63. ‘Gensian’s came right back into the game when a terrific double wicket maiden from Varun removed both Gannon and stand in skipper Harris. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, despite good knocks from Whitmore, Anderson and Medhurst. Unfortunately too many of these were to reckless shots, especially off the bowling of Sainsbury who bowled from one end throughout for his 5 wickets for 87 runs. Sonning were eventually all out for 188, which should have been enough, but nothing like what they wanted.

The Gensian’s innings started perfectly for Sonning with their opener skying a drive of Abbas to cover and it looked like it could be a similar story to earlier in the season . However Grimsdale and Dewey then batted superbly, especially against the pace of Gannon and Abbas. When the lanky Aussie came off after his 7 overs his figures off no wickets for 40 runs were an indication of how well Dewey in particular handled him, although it must be said that his trade mark driving was fed somewhat by overpitching. Harris was hoping that a change of pace may help, and his his first over Boyton had Dewey stumped by the excellent Sumner behind the stumps. His keeping, especially when standing up to Abbas was different class ! At drinks wickets were still seeming hard to come by and with Gensian’s at 120 for 2 and seeing out the spin of Boyton and Richard Anderson with some ease on the turning pitch a change of plan from Harris worked wonders. Abbas was brought back and immediately put pressure on the batters. However the real change came when Gannon returned , bowling the durable Grimsdale, and the 2 overs later taking his third hat trick of the season to have second spell figures of 4 wickets for 1 run off 3 overs! With Abbas taking two more wickets, 9 man Gensian’s were all out for 130 and victory was complete.

This was probably Sonning’s worst performance of the season with batters showing a lack of concentration and application, bowlers showing inconsistency and a number of catches dropped, but at least Harris did not have to call holidaying Skipper Phillips to tell him we had lost!! 3 more points over the last 2 games and we are assured of being Champions, while we are already promoted for next season.

JJ Harris