O'Shea stars as Sully back at top (From Barry And District News)

O'Shea stars as Sully back at top

10:22am Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sport

SULLY Centurions 1st XI stormed back to the top of the Swalec Premier Cricket League with a resounding victory over Port Talbot at Burnham Avenue.

Mike O’Shea played a big part with bat and ball, hitting a half century and grabbing four wickets to become Centurions' man of the match. But this was a true team effort, with Ryan Sylvester and Charlie Lowen also getting half centuries, and good contributions from Lloyd Smith (34), Richard Ready (30 not out) and Dan Rowe (20) ensuring that, on the day the sunshine decided to shine again, Sully took full advantage of the conditions to post a formidable total of 303 for 7. With the visitors' bowling taking a bit of a hammering, the best figures were returned by Griffiths, who posted 3 for 52 and Phelps (2-48).

The openers had reached 41 when Griffiths became the first of three stumpings when Charlie Lowen whipped the bails off following good bowling from O’Shea. Thomas (who top scored with 45) also fell the same way with the score on 82. Dan Rowe picked up one wicket, but it was clearly a day for the slow bowlers as Mike O’Shea (4 for 39), Jamie Sylvester (2 for 34), Richard Ready (2 for 16) and skipper Tom Evison, with 1-28, ensured the victory with Port Talbot finally finishing 189 all out in the 44th over.

CENTURIONS: 303/7 PORT TALBOT: 189 all out.

The Seconds travelled to Port Talbot and were pleased to see the sun shining, but were less pleased with the result that saw them well beaten.

The hosts won the toss and batted first reaching 22 before James Haswell caught and bowled Samuel for 13. This brought Morris and Gosby together and they enjoyed themselves, adding 50 for the second wicket when Morris was caught behind by Ben Spear off the bowling of Dave Eskins for 32. Gosby proved to be the rock of the Port Talbot innings, top scoring with 63. He was finally dismissed by Tom Edwards with the score on 153, being the first of his two victims. Eskins having previously dispatched Jones, who had shared a 40 run partnership with Gosby for 14, Khan (45 not out) and Underwood (20 not out) took the total along to 219 for 6 after the 50 overs. Eskins (2-35) and Edwards (2-23) were the pick of the bowlers.

In reply Centurions began losing wickets regularly being 57 for 4 and then 68 for 5 before skipper Matthew Thomas and Ben Spear shared a stand of 37. When Spear was run out for 23 Thomas and Matthew Rowe put on another 25 before Thomas went for 36 to leave the score on 130/7. One run later Rowe fell for 6 and the tail end collapsed pretty quickly to leave Sully high and dry on 134 all out in only the 39th over.

Port Talbot’s bowlers had a good afternoon with Samuel (4-47) and Jones (3-35) doing most of the damage.

PORT TALBOT: 219/6 SULLY: 134 all out

The 3rd XI had a comfortable win at Panteg eventually running out winners by seven wickets.

Centurions fielded first and soon had the home side on the ropes making inroads into the batting from the start. The wickets were shared around the bowlers as Panteg could only manage 125 all out. The victory was never in doubt as the top order chased down the runs for the loss of only three wickets in just 22 overs. This victory means that the 3rd XI is well placed near the top of the table, breathing down the necks of the league leaders.

PANTEG: 125 all out SULLY: 126/3 

Unfortunately the 4th XI had another blank Saturday as Panteg 4ths couldn’t raise a side; so all that sunshine was for nothing!

Centurions travelled to Newbridge on a glorious Sunday afternoon for a friendly and eventually won by a narrow margin.

Batting first, Sully lost veteran Terry Sylvester for just one in the third over with 10 runs on the board.

However, the second wicket pair of Shae Ellis and David Goodway put on 40 before Ellis was caught for 32. Ben Spear joined Goodway and the pair shared a third wicket partnership of 45 until Spear was caught off the bowling of Kinsey for 30. None of the lower order made many runs and Centurions were grateful for Goodway’s 60 as they slipped to 156 all out, losing the last five wickets for 49 runs.

Newbridge lost an early wicket with Joe Jenkins accounting for Wellington in the second over. Both Jenkins and Emma Davies bowled well with Emma posting figures of 1-14 and Joe ending with 2-27 as Newbridge found the going tough in the early exchanges. Then Newbridge began finding their feet and runs began to flow. But once top scorers Harman (36) and Veal (29) fell the wickets began tumbling once more. Ben Callow (2-12), Scott Macmillan (2-7) and Goodway (3-12) saw off the challenge and the home side ended six runs short in the 36th over.

NEWBRIDGE: 150 all out SULLY: 156 all out

WEEKEND TEAMS

(Saturday) 1st XI: T Evison, L Smith, M O’Shea, C Lowan, A Shantry, J Sylvester, R Sylvester, T Maynard, D Rowe, R Reddy, D Eskins, G Davies.

(Saturday) 2nd XI: M Thomas, R Clitheroe, T Williams, L O’Sullivan, S Ellis, L Bruce, T Edwards, O Sullivan, M Rowe, C Sleeth, B Callow.

(Saturday) 3rd XI: D W Sylvester, N Jones, S Banga, Pavel, D Thacker, R Griffett, R Bennett, G Patel, C Bruce, S Davies, A Gilliatt, N Cuddihy, J Bryant, M Hayes.

(Saturday) 4th XI: TBA, M Fisher, P Harrison, L Burnett, M Burnett, A Langrish, E Davies, J T Sylvester, P Barnett, I Baker, S Macmillan, S Morse, T Johnson, A Sylvester, I Ridout.

Sunday, Sully, team to be announced.