Sowton attended Derby School and joined the family business with his brothers.
He played against the All England Eleven as part of a Derby Town and South Derbyshire side in 1857 and 1859.
Sowter took part in Derbyshire's very first match played as a County Cricket team against Lancashire on 26 and 27 May 1871 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Sowter was a right-handed batsman and played 11 innings in 7 first-class games with an average of 12.8 and a top score of 47 not out.
[3] Sowter was still playing in occasional games in 1879, and for many years afterwards was a vice-president of the club and a member of the committee.