Centurians in fine early season form (From Barry And District News)

Centurians in fine early season form

SULLY Centurions 1st XI got of to the best of starts to their league campaign with an emphatic 79 run victory away to Tondu and followed it up on Sunday with an amazing 300+ victory in the first round of the Welsh Cup against Whitchurch Heath.

Centurions batted first at Tondu and on a low and slow track reached a formidable total of 251 for 8 with Dave Eskins (the reformed version) producing a superb 73 Ryan Sylvester was at his flamboyant best with 55 and useful contributions from debutant Andy Gleeve 22.

Morgan Hodges and Luke O'Connor 14 each gave Centurions more than a useful total. Tondu were never able to get the required run rate losing four wickets by the time they had reached 49, three to Nathan Gage and one to Adam Davies.

From then on in it was survival for the home side a stubborn 30 from veteran Clive Holmes 27 from B Thomas and 30 not out from Owen took Tondu to 172 for 7 at the close and victory for Centurions.

CENTURIONS: (251 for 8) D Eskins 73, R Sylvester 55, B Thomas 2 for 36.

Sunday at Sully and the first round of the Welsh Cup and didn't Centurions enjoy themselves, skipper Jamie Sylvester led by example with a magnificent 136. James Langworth 105 and Ryan Sylvester 50, absolutely slaughtered the Whitchurch Heath attack and off just 45 overs reached an incredible 355 for 3, then what followed was also sensational.

Andy Gleeve, Centurions new recruit, then bowled Whitchurch Heath out with a remarkable spell of bowling, he took 9 for 27 in just seven overs, and bowled the whole nine of them as the visitors were back in the pavilion for just 48 runs, for Centurions to record their biggest ever win in the Welsh Cup by 307 runs.

CENTURIONS: (355 for 3) J Sylvester 136, J Langworth 105no; R Sylvester 50, D Eskins 28.

WHITCHURCH HEATH: (48ao) A Cleeve 9 for 27.

The 2nd XI could not emulate the 1st XI and went down to Tondu at Sully by five wickets in a very disappointing display.

Batting first Centurions got off to a steady start but hit trouble from 29 onwards losing wickets to some very poor shots and certainly not getting to grips that 50 overs is a long game of cricket. Occupation is vital if big totals are going to be reached, something that must be realised quickly or results will continue to be adverse.

Don Sylvester was his steady self. Shaun Davies with 22 but at 71 for 5 Centurions were in deep trouble. And 93 for 7 a 30 run partnership between Dave Sylvester and Mike Hayes gave Centurions some hope and Mike Hayes with a few lusty blows in an excellent 33 not out took Centurions to 136ao.

This was not a score which was going to prove a problem to the visitors. Evans and Squires produced an 80 run opening partnership before Bennett took the first of his three wickets thanks to a superb catch by Mathew Thomas although Centurions made some inroads into the visitors batting, the visitors got home comfortably by five wickets.

CENTURIONS: (136ao) M Hayes 33 not out, S Davies 22, N Miles 5 for 38. TONDU: (137 for 5) A Evans 57, G Squires 32, I Bennett 3 for 37, I Thickpenny 2 for 25.

WEEKEND TEAMS

1st XI v Ponthir (Saturday, Sully 12noon): J Sylvester, R Sylvester, J Langworth, D Eskins, A Gleeve, A Davies, N Gage, G Thomas, M Hodges, L O'Connor, T Williams. 2nd XI v Ebbw Vale (Saturday, leave Glenbrook 11.45am): I Thickpenny, D W Sylvester, D P Sylvester, M Thomas, I Bennett, M Hayes, S Davies, H Miller, J Gee, J Smith, H Williams, C Lane. 3rd XI v Barry Wanderers (Saturday, Sully Hospital 1pm): M Fisher, C Bruce, D Fiddler, R Harries, R Galliford, D Goodway, G Fiddler, M White, J Ord, G Patel, G Dodd. Sully (Sunday, 1pm): D W Sylvester, J Ord, T Williams, D Fiddler, G Fiddler, M Lewis, R Galliford, G Sullivan, P Riordon, M Wheatley, J Ord, H Miller, J Gee.