Victory for Sully Centurions 1sts, 2nds and 3rds (From Penarth Times)

Victory for Sully Centurions 1sts, 2nds and 3rds

8:00am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Sport

SULLY Centurions Cricket Club's 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs all enjoyed the taste of victory on Saturday but the Fourths were robbed of trying to make it a clean sweep because opponents Croesyceiliog have dropped out of the league.

There were one or two anxious moments for the Firsts before they eventually ran out 33-run winners at Usk in their Swalec Premier League clash.

For the second successive week, Mike O'Shea had a good game with bat and ball, starting with an opening partnership of 81 with Ryan Sylvester before he was bowled by James for 40. Ryan and Lloyd Smith then took the score along to 98 when James caught the latter off the bowling of Wilcox for 10.

A third-wicket stand of 41 between Sylvester and Charlie Lowen ended when the former was stumped by Clayton off the bowling of James for a very good 66. Lowen became James' third victim when he was caught by McGeer for 23.

After Adam Shantry and Richard Ready (10) took the score along to 175, there was a clatter of wickets, with five falling for just 12 runs to leave Centurions at 186 for nine. Three of the wickets were the run outs of Jamie Sylvester, Gareth Davies and Tom Evison. Shantry and Tom Maynard pushed Centurions to the 200 mark before the latter was bowled for three to leave Shantry unbeaten on 31. James and Wilcox ended with three wickets apiece, with one for Warwick.

The Usk reply reached 29 when Tamplin (nine) was bowled by Maynard, and Portz and Clayton shared a second-wicket partnership of 38 before O'Shea trapped the former lbw for 27. The next four wickets fell for just four runs, with three for O'Shea and one for Evison.

At 71 for six, the game had turned on its head and Centurions could sense that a victory was there for the taking. However, it didn't prove so straightforward as Usk mounted a counter attack. McGeer (44) and Robinson (23 not out) put on 48 for the ninth wicket but, after McGeer went to a Dan Rowe catch off the bowling of Jamie Sylvester, the last wicket was close at hand as Usk ended on 167 in the 48th over. O'Shea ended with five for 19 and was well supported by Evison (2-23), Maynard (2-32) and Jamie Sylvester (1-28). The victory, along with a defeat for Cardiff, increased Centurions' lead at the top of the table to seven points with four matches left.

Sully Centurions: 200 Usk: 167

EXPERIENCE TELLS

THE Seconds won their clash with Usk at home with a team showing the usual mixture of youth and experience. But it was definitely a day for the older heads as Terry Williams and David Eskins used all their experience to help the side to a comfortable win.

Winning the toss, Centurions opted to bat and reached 29 before Shae Ellis was bowled by Thapay for 16. Five runs later Roger Clitheroe fell to Rees for 13. Ben Callow (15) and Cameron Sleeth (three) shared a 19-run partnership before Centurions suffered a major setback. Sleeth, Callow and, finally, skipper Matthew Thomas (duck) all fell with the score on 53 to leave Centurions with five wickets down and their backs to the wall at the halfway stage.

Eskins and Lloyd Bruce took the score along to 81 when the latter was lbw to Smith for 10. A 28-run partnership between Eskins and Tom Edwards took the score past 100 but, when the latter was caught behind for four, Centurions were looking for inspiration on 109 for eight. This duly came in the form of a century partnership between Eskins and Owain Sullivan. Eskins hit a wonderful 86, including no less than 14 boundaries, before he was caught off Thapay with the score on 209 for nine.

With time running out, the tailenders tried for some quick runs but Laurence O'Sullivan went for seven and Williams was run out for two. Sullivan finished unbeaten on 20 in a total of 218, with Thapay (3-33) and Rees (2-28) being the main wicket takers.

After tea, Centurions quickly made inroads into the visiting batting line-up, with Lewis bowled by Thomas for eight with the score on 12. A 45-run partnership between Aswani and Dhareula ended when the former was the victim of a fine catch by Sullivan off the bowling of Williams for 24 and, as in the Sully innings, three wickets fell in the 50s to leave Usk reeling on 58 for four after 12 overs, with Bruce bagging two wickets.

Another two wickets fell with the score on 71 and a further two at 89 when it looked as if the visitors would struggle to reach 100. However, a ninth-wicket stand of 36 between Steadman (16) and Graveson, who went on to score an unbeaten half century, gave the score some respectability.

By the time last batsman Smith had been trapped lbw by Ellis, the score had moved to 148. Williams (4-39), Bruce (3-39) and Thomas, Callow and Ellis, with a wicket each, enjoyed the spoils in a 70-run victory.

Sullly Centurions: 218 Usk: 148

HOPES OF PROMOTION

RECOVERING from the perilous position of 17 for three, Centurions' 3rd XI enjoyed a convincing victory over Croesyceiliog Woodlands at Wenvoe.

Things were looking decidedly shaky before Sean Davies, with a marvellous 76, and Pavel (58) provided a positive input to allow Centurions to reach a very respectable 218 all out after 45 overs.

The Croesyceiliog reply never really got going as Sully's bowlers tightened the screw. Nick Jones (five for 10) and Ricky Griffett (three for nine) did most of the damage, supported by some good work in the field. The visitors lasted just 27 overs before they were all out for 62. Only Mawby, who reached 30, showed any resistance.

Maximum points helped Centurions consolidate their top three position and the promotion places look within reach.

Sully Centurions: 218 Croesyceiliog Woodlands: 62

SATURDAY TEAMS

1st XI v Pontarddulais (home): T Evison, L Smith, M O'Shea, C Lowen, A Shantry, J Sylvester, R Sylvester, T Maynard, D Rowe, R Ready, D Eskins and G Davies.

2nd XI v Pontarddulais (away): M Thomas, R Clitheroe, L O'Sullivan, S Ellis, L Bruce, T Edwards, O Sullivan, C Sleeth, B Callow, A N Other and A N Other.

3rd XI v Coed Ely (leave Sully Inn at 12 noon): D W Sylvester, A Gilliatt, S Davies, R Griffett, B Jones, G Patel, Pavel, S Banga, M Hayes, C Bruce, H Miller, N Cuddihy and R Bennett.

4th XI v Newbridge (Rhoose at 12.45pm): M Fisher, P Harrison, P Barnett, S Morse, E Davies, S Macmillion, I Baker, L Burnett, M Burnett, J T Sylvester, A Langrish, A Sylvester and T Johnson.