Season ends with an odd bad-light call (From Barry And District News)

Season ends with an odd bad-light call

SULLY Centurions' league season finished in the most bizarre fashion at Usk last Saturday, when after completing 97 overs in fading light, with only three overs remaining and the result not in doubt, the umpires decided to call the game off for bad light.

This meant there was no result, and was particularly frustrating for the Sully men who felt that the match could have been finished in another nine minutes.

Usk won the toss and put Centurions in to bat on an overcast afternoon. Once again, the most reliable opening partnership in South Wales club cricket, Jamie and Ryan Sylvester, produced the goods, adding 157 runs for the first wicket.

Ryan created a new league record as he raced to 81 before he was lbw to Khanna and Jamie passed 1,000 league runs before he was caught off Davies for 72.

O'Shea went for 0, but Lloyd Smith, who has had an excellent end to the season, and the reliable Mike Newbold took the score along at an excellent rate, adding 103 runs for the fourth wicket, before Smith went for an excellent 69.

Newbold was 29 not out when Centurions skipper Jamie Sylvester declared the innings at the end of the 47th over to give his bowlers an extra six overs to bowl Usk out, and it surely would have worked but for the amazing decision of the umpires.

Davies and Perrett got Usk off to a steady start, but at 40, Davies was caught by Gage off Ryan Sylvester for 22.

Wickets fell rapidly now with three more going for the addition of 29 runs.

Khamma was bowled by Ryan Sylvester for 6, Rees was caught by the impressive Sam Doherty off Ryan Sylvester for 1 and Lee was caught at slip by Terry Williams at slip off Smith for 8.

Perrett and Jones then produced a 101 partnership as Centurions took their foot off the gas and this probably cost them a win.

At 170, Perrett was run out for 86 and once again Centurions were at full throttle. Kear was brilliantly caught by Jamie Sylvester, running fully 20 yards from mid-on to mid-off, taking a diving catch off Goodway for 13.

Evans was bowled by Newbold for 11. Roderick, was bowled by Newbold for 0 and then at 208-8 came the incredible decision by the umpires to offer the batsmen the light, and everyone walked off to conclude a very unsatisfactory end to the league season.

Centurions 291 for 4 declared. R Sylvester 81, J Sylvester 72, L Smith 69, M Newbold 29 no. K Davies 2-44, K Khamma 2-48.

Usk 208-8. N Perrett 86, D James 28 no. R Sylvester 3-23, M Newbold 2-9.

To finish the season there will be four friendlies at Sully and it is hoped to start all games at 1.30pm.

Saturday, Sully 12.45pm, from: D W Sylvester, G Sullivan, M Thomas, P Barnett, H Miller, R Sylvester, S Davies, C Bruce, D Goodway, P Rose, T Williams, T Evison, S Ellis, H Smith, A Smith.

Sunday, v Creigiau, at Sully 12.45pm, from: D W Sylvester, G Sullivan, M Thomas, P Barnett, H Miller, R Sylvester, H Williams, C Bruce, D Fiddler, G Fiddler, D Goodway, D P Sylvester, P Rose, T Williams, T Evison, L Bruce.