SULKLY Centurions hosted Monkswood at Burnham Avenue and finished with a victory to keep in touch in the promotion stakes.

Batting first, Sully's openers Gethin Hicks and Rhett Jones took the score along to 44 before Hicks was caught and bowled by Trumper for 14. It became 52 for 2 in the 12th over when Santosh Singh fell to the same bowler for five. Jones went on to hit 44 and David Goodway's 35 also added to the momentum. However, the run rate slowed down considerably and, in spite of a dogged 32 from Pavel and a late unbeaten 18 from Nathan Cuddihy, the home side missed out on maximum batting points - finishing on 194 for 8 at the end of the 45 overs. The wickets were shared out among the Monkswood bowlers, with Trumper's 2 for 24 being the best figures.

In reply, the visitors reached 40 before losing the wicket of skipper Mike Jones, bowled by Santosh for 28. This started a bit of a collapse as the next four wickets fell for just 17 runs. Lloyd Bruce celebrated his return to the fold by claiming five victims, with Bharrat chipping in with a fine 3 for 18 and the innings was wrapped up when Ricki Griffett picked up the wicket of Probert with the score on 115, giving Centurions a victory by 79 runs. With Monmouth unexpectedly losing at Vale, this win has put Sully back in second place with just one match remaining.

Sully Centurions 194-8 Monmouth 115 all out

The second XI made the trip to Monkswood, starting the day in third place and still in with a shout for promotion. But the hosts, who are top of the table, proved too strong for a Sully side missing a few regulars, due to unavailability and containing some players who were carrying injuries.

Skipper Dave Sylvester won the toss and opted to bat, but unfortunately his innings lasted just one ball when he was bowled by Webb for a golden duck. However, Russell Thomas and Jason Hicks set about building the innings and pushed the score along to 85 before Hicks caught and bowled by Weller for 25. Russell Thomas was joined by Nick Jones and the pair shared a stand of 26 before the opener went for a very well made 62. The run rate then slowed down considerably and this, coupled with the regular fall of wickets, left Centurions struggling to post a competitive score. David Morgan, struggling with a hamstring problem, hit an unbeaten 26, but the total of 158 for 8 was always going to be difficult to defend. For Monkswood, the bowling honours went to Ahsan with 4 for 34.

After a fine tea (best of the season was the Sully verdict) the home side set about the task of overhauling the Centurions total. Patrick Lane opened the bowling for the first time and in spite of a jittery start, soon got into his stride and was rewarded with the wicket of Rod Jones (28) thanks to a smart catch from Mike Oatridge behind the stumps. Nick Jones was unlucky to miss out on a wicket and his figures of 0 for 24 off his eight overs was scant reward for some tidy bowling. Monkswood opener Kilmister, meanwhile, was content to accumulate his runs, with support from first Tucker (who was dismissed for 24 following a spectacular diving catch from Patrick Lane off the bowling of Thomas) and then the big hitting Griffiths, who smashed a quick 46 not out. Kilmister ended on an unbeaten 50 as Monkswood ran out deserved winners for the loss of just two wickets.

Monkswood II 160-2 Sully Centurions II 158-8