SULLY Centurions 1st XI had an incredible weekend with a last-over defeat in Cardiff on Saturday, and a last-but-one-over victory in the National Knockout Cup at Swansea on Sunday.

Saturday's game was curtailed to 33 overs due to a wet outfield at Cardiff but it will be remembered for a truly great game of cricket and two fantastic innings for Centurions' Lloyd Smith (a brilliant 100 not out) and for Cardiff's former Centurion and now Glamorgan player Mike O'Shea (112), both in tremendous form.

Centurions batted first with Andrew Davies and Ryan Sylvester adding 36 in just 6 overs. Ryan was caught off Carter for 20 but an 84 run partnership between Davies and Smith took Centurions to 120 off 22 overs.

Davies went for an excellent 62 and then Smith took complete control, as he and Richard Jones added 103 in just 11 overs. Smith reached a truly fine century as Sully posted a target of 224.

O'Shea then produced the second brilliant innings of the day, reaching a fine century before being bowled by Andrew Davies for 112. How Centurions would have liked to have been allocated their former players this year, but Glamorgan decided on Cardiff.

The home skipper Kirtley showed his class with an excellent 64. Ten runs were needed from the last over and the powerful Bultigrecy duly obliged for the home side in yet another cliffhanger with the capital city.

Centurions 223-2. L Smith 100 not out, R Jones 25 not out.

Cardiff 224-5. M O'Shea 112, D Kirtley 64. A Davies 2-46.

KNOCKOUT CUP

So on to Swansea and a return visit in the National Knockout Cup. Beaten last year, Centurions were seeking revenge and what a start they made as they reduced the home side to 38-4.

Ian Nicholson, bowling at some pace, removed both openers with Ryan Sylvester and Andrew Davies picking up a wicket each, but any thoughts of an easy ride for Centurions were soon dismissed as Daniel Rowe (who is on trial with Middlesex) and Hayden dug in and produced a fine 108 run partnership to ensure that the large crowd were in for an excellent afternoon of cricket.

Eskins took a fine catch off Evison to dismiss Rowe for 60 with the score on 146 and 6 runs later Lovering caught R Lloyd for 6. The combination of Eskins and Evison produced the 7th wicket, James going for 5 then former Centurion Adam Davies and Hayden added 17 runs to set Centurions a target of 180 to win.

Sully made a similar start to Swansea, losing 3 quick wickets with only 7 runs on the board, former captain Adam Davies taking 2 wickets.

As in the Swansea innings a partnership then developed as in-form Smith and Reddy began to rebuild the innings, but further disaster struck as Reddy was hit on the thumb, later found to be broken in three places, and he had to retire hurt.

Evison joined Smith and they took the score to 65 with Smith the aggressor, but when he was caught at cover for 43 things looked grim.

When the chips are down fighters are needed and so it proved.

Evison, 21, went at 84-5 and Richard Jones fell to a dubious lbw decision to Darren Thomas for 0 to leave the score on 84-6. Veteran David Eskins joined the much improved Gareth Sullivan, now playing a major role in the batting, and they put Centurions back on track with a super 53 run partnership before a bad mix-up saw Sullivan run out for an invaluable 29.

Two runs later David Eskins received a suspect lbw decision and was out for 25. At 138-8 Centurions still needed 42 runs for victory but the courageous Richard Reddy returned to the crease despite his broken thumb, and added 14 runs with Owain Lovering before Lovering was bowled by Darren Thomas.

Centurions were still 27 runs short but Ian Nicholson joined Reddy who produced a magic 15 minutes as he steered Centurions to a magnificent victory.

Swansea 179-7. D Rowe 60, G Hayden 45. T Evison 3-46, I Nicholson 2-26.

Centurions 180-9. L Smith 43, R Reddy 35 not out, G Sullivan 29, D Eskins 25, T Evison 21. D Thomas 3-31, A Davies 2-15.

SECONDS

Sully 2nd XI were taught a cricketing lesson last Saturday as they were overwhelmed by last year's champions Cardiff.

The decision to insert Cardiff backfired badly as the visiting batsmen cruised to a daunting total of 280-3.

Terry Williams bowled a miserly spell (0-29) but failed to achieve the early breakthrough. The Sully bowlers struggled to gain any sort of control as they bowled both sides of the wicket. The only wicket takers were Steve Hood (1-36), Rhett Jones (1-62) and the returning Dave Goodway (1-69).

Needing a strong start to have any opportunity, Sully had the complete opposite as they slumped to 12-3 with the top three, Goodway, Clitheroe and Jones all back in the pavilion inside the first 5 overs.

Some rebuilding was achieved through the dogged Shae Ellis and Ben Horlock as they put on 35 before Ellis departed for 16. This preceded a further collapse as Matt Thomas and Sean Davies fell in quick succession.

Owain Sullivan briefly showed some defiance but when he fell for 8, Horlock quickly followed, finally falling for a characterful 27. The last rites were delivered when Hood was bowled for 8, leaving Sully all out for a very poor 80.

The pick of the bowling was the opposition captain Jon Rees who finished with 6-21.

This weekend the Seconds travel to newly promoted Blackwood, needing to show improvement if they are to get their season back on track.

Sully 80 all out.

Cardiff 280-3.

TEAMS

1st XI v Blackwood, at Sully: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, D Eskins, G Sullivan, A Davies, I Nicholson, O Lovering, T Evison, L Smith, R Jones, D Goodway.

2nd XI v Blackwood, away: S Hood, M Thomas, T Williams, R Clitheroe, L Bruce, H Williams, R Jones, B Horlock, S Davies, S Ellis, O Sullivan.

3rd XI v Bridgend, Rhoose, 12.45pm, from: J Wooden, D W Sylvester, D P Sylvester, H Miller, D Chalk, B Callow, N Jones, A Gilliatt, C Bruce, N Cudihy, R Griffett, L Doel.

4th XI v Christchurch, leave from Sully Inn, 12 noon: M Fisher, L Cudihy, I Bennett, J T Sylvester, G Tressider, P Harrison, B Spear, A Edwards, T Davies, P O'Shea, L Bennett, D Bruce, N Bruce, T Ensor.