Wargrave v Sonning Common Village - Report

After choosing to bat first on an excellent batting wickets and a lightening fast outfield, Wargrave's openers Ed Grantham and Scott Walker made no mistake in punishing anything loose in the opening overs. Grantham was the first to fall, spooning a simple catch for extra cover for 14.
This wicket brought the returning Matthew Clark to the crease and he set about taking the attack to the bowlers in much the same way as the free-scoring Walker. The pair added 117 for the second wicket as they made Sonning Common's bowlers toil. Finally the breakthrough came when Walker was run out for 69 after some sharp work in the field by Ashley Davies, one of two Wargrave players who kindly agreed to play for Sonning Common as they were a couple of men short.

Matthew Clark, now partnered by first his brother Jack (69) and then his dad Ken, continued to play positively and reached his maiden Wargrave 50 after two years out of the game. Clark then fell, also for 69, with the score on (194), at which point the innings faltered somewhat as some tight death bowling prevented Clark, K (18*) and Michael Hattey (5*) from cutting loose. Wargrave finished with their score on 212-4 after their allotted 40 overs.

Wargrave opened their attack with youngsters Charlie Moss and Andrew Hattey, and both bowled tightly in the opening overs. Moss made the first breakthrough, trapping opener Cook, LBW for 24. This brought Tom Tabrah, Sonning Common's other loaned Wargrave player, to the crease and he set about taking the attack to Wargrave's bowlers. With the run rate beginning to creep up, Wargrave turned to Huw Thomas and Jack Clark to try to tie up both ends and make the game safe. Thomas (2 for 26) removed other opener Pitson for 45 after a fine boundary catch from J Clark, before Tabrah also fell for 38 at which point the game became safe for Wargrave. Walker (2 for 21) and Moss (2 for 40) took the remaining wickets as Sonning Common eventually closed on (189-6).

Special thanks once again go to Tom Tabrah and Ashley Davies from agreeing to play for the opposition at such short notice.

Next week, the Sunday XI travel to Shepherds Lane to take on former Chilterns League rivals, Hurley.