League and Cup wins for Sully Centurions First XI

After a good start Centurions, with 5 run-outs, tried hard to press the self destruct button but cometh the hour cometh the men, and Tom Evison and Chris (Ken) Thorne came to the rescue.

From 86-5 they took the score to 183 and another good total was on the cards.

Ryan Sylvester gave the side an excellent start with a quickfire 40 before he was bowled by New Zealander Mike Jones with the score on 59.

Then at 79 Centurions came off the rails with Jamie Sylvester run out to a dubious decision followed by Gareth Sullivan run out in a mix-up. Richard Ready was run out when he had a rush of blood and Lloyd Smith was caught for 17, with Centurions in trouble at 86-5.

Then came Evison fresh from his day off on Saturday and the flamboyant Thorne and what a magnificent partnership it was as they added 97 invaluable runs with Evison the aggressor and Thorne supporting.

Yet another run out saw Thorne depart for an excellent 35 with the score on 183, and there is certainly a need for some sprint training this week.

Evison continued the good work, passing a well deserved 50 with good support from a revitalised Dave Eskins 17, and reaching 64 not out as Centurions posted a useful 231 at the end of their 45 overs.

Bridgend's reply was slow with just 58 runs coming from the first 20 overs and 3 wickets down - Jouler, Steptoe and the dangerous Mike Jones all back in the Pavilion with David Eskins bowling a magnificent 9 overs, taking 1-26.

Jamie Sylvester and Tom Evison (what a day he was having) kept up the good work as Centurions turned the screw and only Andrew Davies 37 and a late flurry from Russell 52 increased the run rate whilst Grant Humphries played very much the anchor role with a solid 61.

But victory was always in Centurions' hands as Bridgend were 198-9 at the end of their 45 overs, well short of the 232 needed for victory, and so to the next round for Sully.

Centurions 231 all out. T Evison 64 not out, R Sylvester 40, C K Thorne 35. M Jones 2-30.

Bridgend 198-9. G Humphries 61, J Russell 52, A Davies 37.

TOP OF LEAGUE

ON Saturday, Centurions bounced back in style after last week’s defeat to reclaim top position in the Swalec Premier League, following this fantastic victory over title rivals Pontarddulais, who included Glamorgan legend Robert Croft in their ranks.

The visitors batted first and were soon in trouble as Ryan Sylvester took the wickets of Law and Carey to leave Pontarddulais on 57 for 2.

But a 97 run partnership between Roberts and Harrison gave momentum to the visitors’ innings until Centurions’ wicket keeper Roger Clitheroe caught Roberts off the bowling of Jamie Sylvester for a well-made 77.

Harrison continued the good work when he and Arrowsmith added 82 for 4th wicket before being bowled by Alex Wharf for 88.

Owen Dawkins had Arrowsmith caught by Lloyd Smith for 39 and the innings closed on 240 for 5.

That man Ryan Sylvester joined with Alex Wharf to share an opening stand of 143. Ball after ball was despatched to the boundary, including a 6 over the houses from Alex Wharf off Robert Croft’s first delivery. Wharf was finally stumped off the bowling of Roberts for 53. After a brief innings from Mike Powell, Ryan combined with Lloyd Smith (36 not out) to steer Centurions home. Ryan ended on a magnificent 133 not as Centurions claimed an 8-wicket victory in the 35th over.

Sully 241 for 2; Pontarddulais 240 for 5.

SECONDS

THE 2nd XI travelled to Pontarddulais and were left contemplating what might have been after failing to see out the 50 overs, thus handing 2 extra overs to the home side, in which they clinched victory.

Skipper Matt Thomas and Chris Thorne put on 28 for the first wicket when Chris was lbw to Williams for 7. Owain Lovering went for a duck and then the wickets tumbled with regularity. Matt Thomas’ 27 was the only individual score in double figures and at 68 for 8 it was looking terminal, but an 8th wicket partnership of 123 between Huw Williams (75) and new boy Laurence O’Sullivan (62 not out) gave Centurions a boost. The last wickets fell with the score on 213 in the 48th over, which left Pontarddulais 52 overs to reach the target. Jamie Williams, with 5 for 39, and Lucius Kerry (3 for 15) did most of the damage.

After tea the home side put on 64 for the first wicket and set up a platform for victory. Top scorer was Lloyd, with 56, but all the batsmen contributed. Jones and Williams shared a stand of 60 to steer the hosts home in the second added over.

O’Sullivan added to his batting success by bagging 3 wickets for 27, but a 6 wicket defeat was scant reward for the heroics.

Pontarddulais 214-4; Sully 213 all out.

THIRDS

THE 3rd XI entertained Caerphilly and Bedwas at Wenvoe last Saturday. Winning the toss they batted first, but were soon in trouble.

The home side lost 7 wickets for 49 runs and only skipper Dave Sylvester and Nathan Cuddihy brought respectability to the total.

Tom Davies and Andrew Gilliattt, with a late flourish, saw Centurions reach 112-9 at the end of their 45 overs - a total which was never going to be enough.

The visitors also struggled on the difficult track but Centurions helped them as they dropped 5 catches, and Caerphilly and Bedwas reached the target for the loss of 4 wickets.

Centurions 112-9. N Cuddihy 20. M Jones 3-19, S Evans 3-23, R Blewitt 3-29.

Caerphilly & Bedwas 113-4. R Blewitt 44, S Griffin 24. D P Sylvester 2-26.

FOURTHS

THE 4ths travelled to Caerphilly & Bedwas and lost narrowly despite some heroics by the younger members of the side. Centurions were asked to bat after losing the toss.

Makeshift openers Jim Ord and Paul Harrison got Centurions off to a great start and put on 66 for the first wicket before Paul fell for 28.

Jim followed, with the score on 72 for 2, caught for 34 (all but 2 coming from boundaries). Then the traditional 4th XI collapse followed as one by one wickets tumbled. At 123 for 7 Geoff Kingston and Mark Burnett came together to add some quick runs and put on 25 before Mark fell for 18. The last wicket partnership of Kingston and Mick Fisher took the score along to 187 for 9 after the 45 overs.

Following tea, Centurions started well and Lee Jones managed to make a breakthrough in the 5th over, bowling Williams for 6, with the score on 17. However, the normally steady Paul Fisher wasn't on song and the runs began to flow.

Farkes (46) and Rogers (54) put on a hundred for the 4th wicket, to put the home side in the driving seat. But some fine bowling from Lee Jones (4 for 30), Iwan Baker (2 for 37) and Luke Burnett (1 for 8) dragged the game back, leading to a tense finale. Paul Fisher was no-balled for having three men behind square, just as he took a wicket. But this disappointment changed to delight two balls later when Rogers was dismissed following a fine reflex catch by Peter Barnet.

Then Luke Burnett was also no-balled for not telling the umpire his action as he came back for his second spell. The last over commenced with the scores tied and Green hit a single to secure the match for Caerphilly with 4 balls left.

A fine game that went right to the wire, but the luck wasn't with Sully at all. The whole team should be proud of the performance, especially the three junior bowlers - so near but so far.

Caerphilly & Bedwas 188-8; Sully 187-9.

TEAMS

1st XI v Cardiff, away: M O'Shea, J Sylvester, R Sylvester, A Wharf, T Evison, L Smith, R Clitheroe, J Denning, G Sullivan, J Bussey, M Powell, A Shantry, R Ready.

2nd XI v Cardiff, at Sully, from: M Thomas, O Lovering, L Bruce, H Williams, T Williams, C Thorne, L O'Sullivan, O Sullivan, S Ellis, Rhett Jones, L Bennett, A N Other, A N Other.

4th XI v Brynmawr, at Wenvoe, 12.45pm from: M Fisher, P Harrison, L Jones, J T Sylvester, I Baker, L Burnett, M Burnett, T Davies, N Jones, R Griffett, G Stone, M Pryce, D W Sylvester, A Gilliatt, N Cuddihy, T Edwards.

Sunday, v Miskin, leave Sully Inn 1pm: D W Sylvester, H Miller, C Bruce, L Bruce, A Gilliatt, M Cuddihy, A McKinnon, B Spear, N Jones, R Griffett, M Pryce, L Bennett, T Edwards.