SULLY Centurions Cricket Club entertained Rogerstone at Burnham Avenue on Saturday and pulled off a victory that at one stage seemed very unlikely.

Rogerstone batted first and had reached 26 when Santosh Singh bowled Andy Harris for 15. But the second wicket pair of Webb and Holdaway took the score along to 93 before Webb was caught behind by Tarv Dhanjal off the bowling of Prashant for 36. This was the first of four catches taken by the Sully wicket keeper.

Wickets and runs continued to be added to the scorecard, with neither side really getting the upper hand. Two wickets each for Santosh and Prashant and three for Rajkumar helped the Centurions cause. For the visitors, half centuries for Luke Harris and Alex Holdaway saw them through to 227 all out and maximum batting points.

The Sully innings was only four overs old when Berry struck with the wicket of Sandeep (6) with the score on just 12. Berry went on to take four wickets in total, as Centurions struggled to keep up with the required run rate.

Some decent partnerships helped the score along, but after Rajkumar’s dismissal for a well-made 62, Centurions were on 166 for seven. Things took a turn for the worse when the next two wickets went down for just one run. This left Lloyd Bruce and Srinivasa Kothapali with what looked like an impossible task – still 60 runs behind with only one wicket left.

But Lloyd, still recovering from his pre-season injuries, which caused him to miss half of Sully’s games so far, set about the Rogerstone attack, hitting five fours and a six in an unbeaten 54. He was ably supported by Srinivasa, who held his end up, finishing on 16 not out. Sully got home with two overs to spare, for a victory that will be long remembered by those who were there. Anyone who left early believing it was a lost cause missed out on a big finale.

Sully Centurions 228 - 9

Rogerstone Welfare 227 all out

The seconds made the trip to Rogerstone for the reverse fixture and were well beaten, but a half century by young Gethin Hicks was a plus point.

The home side batted first and the first wicket partnership of Tutton and Hughes had reached 66 when Tutton fell to a great catch by wicket keeper Lewis Pyke off the bowling of Josh Bryan for 35. Hughes and Trinder took the score along to 89 when Jason Hicks bowled Trinder for eight. Hughes completed his half century but shortly afterwards pulled up with an injury that eventually caused him to retire hurt on 53.

However Young (46) and Robson (48 not out) continued to pile on the runs to put the home side in the driving seat. Some dropped catches and miss-fields didn’t help the Sully cause, but late wickets for Luke Burnett, who bowled Watson for one, and skipper Dave Sylvester (who had Young caught by Patrick Lane) gave Centurions a couple of bowling points, as the innings closed on 219 for four.

The Sully innings never quite got going, as wickets began to fall with some regularity. Only three batsmen reached double figures – including 10 for Chris Coles and 20 for Paul Harrison, who was the last man out – being run out as he and Gethin Hicks were going for the next batting point, as time was running out. Gethin was left on 57 not out – a fine innings that was worthy of a better outcome.

Rogerstone Welfare II 219 - 4

Sully Centurions II 127 all out

Next Saturday Centurions 1st XI are away at Ebbw Vale, with the 2nd XI hosting Whitchurch Heath seconds at Sully.

On Sunday an academy side from Dubai will be the visitors for a friendly match, where it is hoped that several of the younger Sully players will feature, alongside some more experienced players.