Victory on poor wicket (From Barry And District News)

Victory on poor wicket

SULLY Centurions 1st XI travelled to Chepstow on Saturday for a real top of the table clash.

A very poor wicket greeted Centurions, but skipper Jamie Sylvester who won the toss thought it would deteriorate ever further and decided to bat.

Centurions innings began steadily enough, 34 runs coming off the first nine overs before Sellers made the breakthrough for the home side having Jamie Sylvester caught behind for 17. Langworth then joined Ryan Sylvester and without doubt their 57 run partnership proved vital in the outcome of the match. At 91 Langworth was bowled by off spinner Hopkins, who then produced a remarkable spell of bowling, taking 8 for 15 as Centurions dramatically collapsed from 91 for 1 to 132 all out, with Ryan Sylvester playing a truly superb innings before he too was a victim of Hopkins, bowled for 67. No other player reached double figures.

Even so this low total was worth many more on a decent wicket and so it proved. Chepstow's innings got off to a similar start as Centurions, 34 runs for the first wicket, then Gage had Guest caught behind for eight. From then on Chepstow found the conditions very bowler friendly and batting a little bit of a lottery.

At 51 Gage struck again trapping Bixby LBW for 3, and claimed his third victim at 67 sending Dobbie back to the pavilion for 10, meanwhile Price was providing Chepstow with some hope as he battled to survive then at 76 Jamie Sylvester who produced a fine controlled spell of off spin bowling, 11 overs for just 18 runs, had Freeman stumped by Langworth for nought.

Two runs later Giles was caught off Sylvester for nought and the home side were now 78 for five. From then on the pace of Ryan Sylvester and Adam Davies was too much for the home side and only Price was able to hold up the Centurion victory charge, Sylvester with three wickets and Davies two saw Chepstow well short of their target, all out for 114 with Price high and dry not out 6.

This was a fine bowling performance but it also underlines the fact that away from home conditions are not perfect for batting and will have to be coped with if the League is to be won.

The 2nd XI fixture at Sully was even more a thriller as local rivals Penarth squeezed home by one wicket.

Centurions batted first on a hard Sully wicket and looked set for a big score as Craig Thomas and Don Sylvester took the score to 75 of 20 overs but as has happened all season the lack of ability and awareness of 50 over cricket saw Centurions slump from 75 for 0 to 107 for 7.

With some appalling cricket Craig Thomas was caught of Prichett at 75 for an excellent 36, Miller went for five caught and bowled Prichett, Gill playing his first game of the season and not looking in touch was caught of Wilkinson for 1, followed by M Thomas for 5, and skipper Thickpenny for 2.

Hayes with 14 was again looking in touch but also threw his wicket away when he looked as if a big score was possible. Only Don Sylvester with a fine 35 had looked at all comfortable as the spinners of Penarth took control.

Bennett was joined by Dave Sylvester in the 39th over and all they could do was to try to put some respectability into the total. Bennet the aggressor and Sylvester in his determined mood, they added 31 invaluable runs before Sylvester went caught for 6.

Bennett with an excellent 25 took the final Centurion total to 145 a very poor effort by the majority of the batsmen.

Penarth got off to an excellent start as Stephens and Parkinson produced a 58 run opening partnership before Stephens was run out for 28, at 80 Parkinson was caught off Bennett, what a day he was having for 28, and wickets began to tumble, Bennett claimed another victim when he had Chilcott caught for 14, skipper Thickpenny re-introduced himself into the attack and with Bennett, began to turn things Centurions way, bowling Docherty for 11 having Morgan caught for 8, Bennett with two more wickets and Thickpenny one, then young James Smith bowling an excellent second spell, bowled the dangerous McNaughton for 13, but the old head of Humpage and Prichett got Penarth home by one wicket in the 47th over.

Centurions must produce bigger totals for their opponents' bowlers to aim at.