Sully win derby by 104 runs (From Penarth Times)

Sully win derby by 104 runs

SULLY Centurions Cricket Club had their most successful weekend of the season as they managed to complete four matches for the first time, and won them all.

On Saturday, after many years of waiting in the shadows of local rivals Penarth, Centurions visited their neighbours for the very first time in a league fixture and as both sides are in the Premier League this season, this added more spice to the game.

The home side's skipper Dave Ricketts won the toss and asked the visitors to bat on a wicket that was not looking like the rock hard track Sully are used to.

Sully made a rapid start with Jamie and Ryan Sylvester opening the innings with Ryan blasting 29 off just seven overs and the side was on 46 when he played a rather casual shot and was bowled by Crowther.

Lloyd Smith returned to his old stamping ground and with Jamie Sylvester compiled a fine partnership of 86 when Lloyd was rather harshly adjudged lbw one run short of a deserved half century.

The score of 135-2 off 36 overs was looking formidable. Mark Walton made a brief 12 but then the loss of both Walton and O'Shea gave Penarth a little hope.

Sully were 159-4 from 42 overs when Jamie Sylvester, who had played another major innings for the club, was run out for a superb 69.

With the score on 167 and 11 overs remaining, enter David Eskins.

What a cricketer he can be when he composes himself.

Hardly a word from him all afternoon and he produced the goods with a magnificent 45.

Morgan Hodges played an excellent supporting role and with Gleeve and Gaye adding an extra 10 runs Centurions posted a more than useful total of 243 for 7 with Richard Skone the only home bowler able to apply the brakes to the Sully run rate, taking 2-35 in 15 overs.

The Penarth innings got off to a disastrous start and after 15 overs the game as a contest was virtually over, with the main interest how many bonus points each side would get.

Both Penarth opening batsmen were back in the pavilion for 0, with Walton and Adam Davies claiming a wicket each.

Skone and James Doherty tried to stem the tide but at 26 and with 19 overs already gone Doherty was trapped lbw for 13 by Walton, bowling with great accuracy.

One run later Gage joined in the fun, trapping Goodfellow lbw for 0, and Penarth were very much on the ropes. Worse followed as the rampant Sully attack just ripped the home side batting apart.

At 33 Skone was bowled by Walton for a stubborn 14 and three runs later Pires was well caught by O'Shea off Terry Williams for 4.

Some fight came from the home side when Thomas and Parkinson took advantage as Sully understandably took the foot off the pedal, and produced an excellent stand of 74 for the seventh wicket before Thomas became Williams' second victim, Gage taking the catch for a battling 33.

As often happens his partner Parkinson soon followed for an excellent 37 stumped by Hodges, again off Williams.

McNoughton and Crowther held Centurions up in their quest for maximum points but Davies bowled McNoughton for 9 and from the last but one ball Gage secured the extra bowling point, and Penarth were beaten by 104 runs.

Centurions 243 for 7. J Sylvester 69, L Smith 49, D Eskins 45, R Sylvester 29. R Skone 2-35. J McNoughton 2-66, M Crowther 1-48, M Frost 1-67.

Penarth 139 all out. J Parkinson 37, M Thomas 33. M Walton 3-15, T Williams 3-43, N Gage 2-15, A Davies 2-29.

The 2nd XI entertained Croesyceiliog at Sully, the visitors winning the toss and deciding to bat.

It looked as if a very big score was on the cards even after John Gee had removed John for 0.

Adams and Jones produced an excellent partnership of 90 before Gareth Thomas bowled Adams for a solid 44.

Jones followed very close behind for 28 but Smith and Cahill kept up the good work with the Sully bowlers find it hard work as another long partnership developed.

Thickpenny bowled Smith for 53, Gee had Cahill caught for 30 and as overs began to run out Couch was run out for 3, and Thickpenny bowled Lewis for 2. The visitors finished on 200-7 which included 34 extras.

Centurions, with James Cook making a much delayed debut, got off to a great start with Cook looking a great acquisition with an excellent 61.

Don Sylvester put on 98 for the first wicket before both fell on the same score.

Five runs later the impatient Huw Williams was caught for 4 and worse followed at 110 when Mathew Thomas was stumped for 13 and Sully, from 98-0, had slumped to 110-4.

It must be said that there is a need for more understanding of the 50 over game.

Miller and Davies took the score to 145 before Davies was caught for 12. Mike Lewis, who has not got going this season, was caught off Beale for 0 and Miller then took control with skipper Thickpenny to see Centurions home by 4 wickets.

Croesyceiliog 200-7. J Smith 53, I Adams 44, C Cahill 30, J Jones 28. I Thickpenny 2-38, J Gee 2-63.

Centurions 202-6. J Cook 61, H Miller 42 no, I Thickpenny 29no, D P Sylvester 20.