Centurions prove far too strong for Usk (From Penarth Times)

Centurions prove far too strong for Usk

SULLY entertained Usk in the South Wales Cricket Premier League last Saturday, on what was to prove a record breaking afternoon.

Sully won the toss on a hot afternoon at Burnham Avenue and decided to bat first. The Sully captain and his brother Ryan opened the innings and in between some nudges for singles and the odd dot ball there were some gems.

Ryan Sylvester took 16 off Owen Watkins' fifth over and it proved an expensive afternoon for the Usk bowler.

Jamie Sylvester was the first to go when he was caught behind with the score on 67, for a sprightly 22 including three fours. This brought young Lloyd Smith to the wicket for a fruitful afternoon.

Ryan Sylvester, who was dropped on 39 at deep square leg, went on to a fine 50 from 33 balls with nine fours, but he was caught by Mike Kear off the bowling of Dominic Rees the very next ball to end a fine 40 run partnership with Smith.

One ball later it was 107-3 when debutant James Cook was caught behind for a golden duck.

Michael O'Shea joined Lloyd Smith and batting with clam and panache for one so young, he was the perfect foil as Smith proved he is a class act.

Lloyd Smith reached his maiden league 50 for Sully in 56 balls and went on to a monumental score of 164 not out, his century coming in 88 balls and his innings containing 23 fours and two sixes in a total of 119 balls faced.

This was followed by a brilliant 88 not out by Michael O'Shea who hit 12 fours and faced 93 balls in a fantastic fourth wicket partnership of 244 and a league record total of 351-3, a great effort.

Usk's reply got off to a sluggish start and they were soon up against it as they were 21-2, with Jeremy Wyatt brilliantly caught behind by Morgan Hodges for 7, from the bowling of Adam Davies, one of his five wickets.

Ian Clayton was next to go, caught by Nathan Gage off the bowling of Andy Gleeve. Adam Davies came steaming in and has Usk captain Davies caught by Jamie Sylvester for 7. It was now 39-3, and soon became 57-4 when Davies picked up his third wicket, Mohindu caught by Gage.

In between the fall of wickets Kunal stuck firm at the other end.

Nathan Gage, not to be outdone, grabbed the wicket of John Hughes lbw for 10 and the score was 83-5.

Then came the biggest partnership of the innings as Kunal and Kear put on 34 before Kunal was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by David Eskins for a top score of 35, with the total at 117-6.

Thirteen runs later it was 130-7 when Jamie Sylvester had Kear caught behind by Hodges for 25.

The stage was set for Adam Davies' five-star show as he returned for one over and picked up the wickets of Owen Watkins caught behind by Morgan Hodges, and Andrew Leonard bowled for a duck, to finish with 5-27 from his hostile spell of fast bowling.

The Usk innings came to an abrupt end when Jake Roderick pulled up and retired hurt with the final score 153-9, to give Sully a massive 198 runs victory.

Sully 351-3. L Smith 164 no, M O'Shea 88 no, R Sylvester 50.

Usk 153 all out. K Kunal 35, M Kear 25. A Davies 5-27.

Sully: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, L Smith, J Cook, M O'Shea, M Hodges, A Gleeve, D Eskins, N Gage, A Davies, M Lewis.