Centurions Out Amidst Controversy
Centurions travelled to Bath CC for the Regional Final of the ECB National Knockout Competition and were knocked out in controversial circumstances.
Batting first on a hot, humid, day Sully got off to the worst possible start, with Saturday's two big hitters, Ryan Sylvester and Lloyd Smith, both out in the first over. Jamie Sylvester and Richard Ready then staged a fightback, putting on 63 for the 3rd wicket, when Jamie was run out for 22.
Richard must have felt guilty, as he played a very responsible innings, ending up as top scorer on 68, with good support from Andrew Davies (33) and a late quick hit 18 from Richard Jones to drag Centurions back to some respectability on 171 for 8 after the 45 overs.
However, during the innings one of the Bath players was taken off the field by paramedics, following a serious injury, which was thought to be a broken ankle. Following this, the 12th man came on, but as he was an ineligible overseas player, Centurions have grounds for complaint. There was more to come.
The Bath batsmen found it just as hard to get any momentum - with three wickets for Ryan and two for Tom Evison along with one each for Diver, Jamie and Ian Nicolson. When the final pair came together they were still 25 runs short of victory. A good partnership between Kelly and Davies gave the home side some hope, but they still needed 12 runs off the final over. Then it happened...the umpires decided that Sully had taken longer than the allotted time to bowl the overs and awarded a 6 run penalty. This meant that Bath now only needed 6 runs.
The game ended in controversy and confusion and the travelling band of Centurions' supporters were not happy.
Bath 172 for 8 Sully 171 for 8
Click here for KO Cup scorecard
Huge Win at Sully
A fantastic century from Ryan Sylvester helped Centurions reach a total of 303 for 4 against Crosesyceiliog at Burnham Avenue. Ryan hit thirteen 4s and five sixes as he put the opposition bowling to the sword. After putting on 80 with brother Jamie (25) Ryan combined with Lloyd Smith in a stand of 133 for the second wicket when Lloyd fell for a very good 73. Ryan was then joined by Richard Ready and they shared 40 before Ryan finally went for 129, being bowled by Beacham. Richard (23) and Andrew Davies (22) enjoyed themselves - putting on another 46 runs before Andrew also fell to Beacham.
The bowling was also top drawer as Centurions pressed home the advantage. Ryan took 2 wickets, accounting for top scorer Bragg (23) with a catch from wicket keeper Owain Lovering (one of 3 catches taken by Owain). Only Lewis (15) and Reid (14) reached double figures as Croesy struggled to get the ball away. Richard Lovering, making his season's debut, took one wicket, as did skipper Jamie Sylvester - with Andrew Davies posting 2 for 18 off his 8 overs. But the bowling honours went to Richard Ready, with 4 for 21, mopping up the vistors' tail to see them all out for 136, with 15 overs still remaining..
Sully 303 for 4 Croesyceiliog 136 all out
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Centurions Go Out of Cup
Centurions crashed out of the Welsh Cup in a six wicket defeat at Cardiff. For the second day running Richard Ready (37) and Andrew Davies (90) were Sully's best with the bat as they put together a great stand of 112 that gave the score some respectability after a disastrous start. But both fell within a few runs of each other and it was up to Tom Evison, Garteh Sullivan and Owain Lovering to bring the score up to 191 for 6 at the end of the 45 overs.
In reply Cardiff went about the business of reaching the target in a professional manner - once again it was Andrew Davies who gave us some hope, with 3 wickets - but Thomas (47) Kirtley (52) and Jenkins (42) laid a solid foundation as the home side raced home in the 38th over.
Cardiff 192/4 Sully 192/4
Still Top of the League
The 1st XI recorded a 6 wicket win at Pentyrch to remain on top of the Premier Division. Pentyrch batted first and only Coates (25) made any impression at all, as Centurions hammered home their superiority to dismiss the home side for 149.
With the openers not exactly firing and Ryan getting out to an early LBW call, it was up to Andrew Davies (63 not out) and Richard Ready (56 not out) to see Sully home with time to spare.
Pentyrch 149 all out Sully 150/4
Magnificent win in Gloucestershire
A visit to Gloucesterhire side Frocester on Sunday saw Centurions avenge the defeat of 2 years ago in some style, as they swept the home side away and continued to march on in the ECB National Knckout Cup.
Sully batted first and Jamie Sylvester was unlucky when he gloved a delivery to the keeper when he was on 9. This brought in Lloyd Smith who continued his good form by hitting a half century in a 2nd wicket partnership with David Goodway (27) that took Centurions to 101 for 2. Both players were out in quick succession and the home team were right back in it. After suffering a mini middle order collapse (including the stumping of Ryan Sylvester, who was making his comeback following his broken toe) Gareth Sullivan and Owain Lovering put on 50 for the 9th wicket, leaving Sully on 202 at the end.
After tea, Centurions set about the task of attacking the Frocester batting. The bowling was out of this world - three unplayable deliveries from Ian Nicolson saw the top three batsen back in the hutch for 11 runs. In spite of a spirited fight by Trainor and Davis, the home side were never at the races. Tom Evison (3 for 14), Richard Ready (2 for 12) and a wicket each for Jamie Sylvester and David Goodway ensured the job was done in style. Frocester were all out for just 96.
Frocester 96 all out Sully 202 for 8
Important win at St Fagans
A six wicket victory at St Fagans consolidated Centurions' place at the top of the table. St Fagans batted first and Glamorgan's Tom Maynard was their batting star, hitting 89 in a total of 211 for 9. Andrew Davies with 3 for 29 and Ian Nicolson (2 for 44) did the business with the ball for Centurions.
The Sully reply was dominated by Richard Ready (81) and Jamie Sylvester (80) with some big hitting from Lloyd Smith, who hit 25, as Centurions slipped up a gear and cruised past the target with only four wickets down
St Fagans 211/9 Sully 215/4
Cup Run Continues in the Sun
On the hottest day of the year so far Centurions hosted Hatherley and Reddings CC in the 2nd Rd of the ECB National KO Cup. The visitors won the toss and opted to bat, but after a bright start the wickets started to tumble. The ever reliable Tom Evison helped himself to 3 wickets, as did Ian Nicolson, with two for Jamie Sylvester and one each for Dave Eskins and Lloyd Smith. The Gloucestershire side wilted in the sun and were skittled out for just 129 in the 42nd over.
Jamie and Dave Goodway continued where they left off on Saturday and built up a solid foundation before Jamie played on and was bowled for 25, with the score on 48. Lloyd Smith then joined Goodway and kept the runs coming until Goodway was brilliantly caught for 31. Lloyd and Gareth Sullivan looked like they were going to take Centurions over the line but Lloyd was stumped on 43, with just 4 runs required. Richard Jones added to the drama by getting a first ball duck before Owain Lovering faced the hat trick ball and survived an LBW appeal. After enduring a maiden over Owain nudged a boundary and the game was won. We now travel to Frocester in te next round.
Sully 130/4 Hatherley & Reddings 129 all out Click Here For Scorecard
Comfortable Win at Tondu
Centurions returned to Tondu a week after the Welsh Cup victory and, in spite of having a couple of absentees, managed a comfortable 10 wicket win.
The home side batted first and were never able to settle, with Centurions' bowlers always having the upper hand. Andrew Davies, who sadly lost his father on Thursday, demolished the Tondu batting with four wickets for just 29 runs. Skipper Jamie Sylvester kept up the pressure with another good display with the ball and ended with figures of 3 for 18. Lloyd Smith bowled well, in his first sustained spell of the season, and was unlucky not to have picked up a wicket. Only Bussey (31) and Wools (38) showed any real resistance as Tondu were all out for 143.
With Ryan Sylvester nursing a broken toe from last week's cup win, a new pairing of Jamie Sylvester and David Goodway opened the innings for Sully. Both batsmen soon got the measure of the home attack and proceded to dispatch the bowling at regular intervals. Both ended up unbeaten (Jamie on 65 and David on 60) as Centurions ran out winners by 10 wickets.
Tondu 143 all out Sully 145 for 0
Win at Tondu Gets Cup Fever Underway
Centurions visited Tondu for this Welsh Cup tie and ran out winners by 79 runs. Batting first, with the tried and trusted Sylvester brother opening partnership, it was back to business for Sully as Jamie and Ryan put on 126 for the first wicket. After Jamie's departure for 43, Ryan carried on his merry way and had hit 82 by the time he was out in the 32nd over. Lloyd Smith (27) and Andrew Davies (39) carried on the good work and the innings closed on an impressive 220 for 4.
In reply, the home side had no answer to the miserly bowling form of Ian Nicolson, who bowled 6 overs for just three runs. The rest of the Centurion attack backed this up admirably, with the wickets being shared out. At 50 for 5 the game was effectively over as a contest, but the Tondu batsmen ground out the overs and finished on 141 for 9. Top wicket takers were Jamie Sylvester (3 for 37) and Andrew Davies (2 for 12). David Eskins, Tom Evison and David Goodway got one each, with a run out, courtesy of the Esk, accounting for the other wicket. Job Done - next week it's Hatherley & Reddings in the National Knockout Cup - Cup Fever officially starts here!
Tondu 141/9 Sully 220/4 Click Here For Scorecard
Centurions Win with Late, Late Show
With neighbours Penarth visiting Burnham Avenue, this was always going to be an interesting encounter. The visitors batted first and, in spite of a half century from Pete Docherty and 40 not out from Dilmott-Smith, they could only muster 183 for 8 at the end of the allotted 50 overs. Wickets were shared around, with two each for Jamie Sylvester, Tom Evison, Andrew Davies and Ian Nicolson.
However, Centurions didn't have it all their own way and, with the in-form Lloyd Smith drawing a blank and the normally explosive Ryan Sylvester once again misfiring, wickets began to tumble. Dilmott-Smith grabbed 5 for 51 and there were a couple of wickets from ex Centurion Mark Frost, as Penarth gave it their all. But a gutsy 46 from Andrew Davies and a painstaking innings from Jamie Sylvester (57 not out) saw Sully acros the line. The winning runs were scored by Jamie off the last ball of the innings and a relieved Centurions side had scraped home.
Sully 187/9 Penarth 183/8
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Lloyd Puts Blackwood to the Sword
In this home league match, Sully batted first, after being put in, and there was a wicket in the first over when Ryan Sylvester went for a third ball duck. Enter the in-form Lloyd Smith, who proceded to give a batting master class, with a fine array of shots all around the ground. Andrew Davies went for 26, after putting on 48 with Lloyd. This was followed by four more stands of a half century each, all involving the man of the moment, Smith. Lloyd was eventually caught out for a magnificent 134, having batted for 47 overs. The innings closed on an impressive 293 for 7.
The Blackwood response got off to a solid start as Birch and Evans put on 64 for the first wicket - Birch eventually falling to the bowling of Dave Eskins for 37. Another half century partnership took the visitors to 122 when Evans went for a well crafted 43, trapped LBW by Tom Evison. Then a middle order collapse saw 3 wickets go for 13 runs, with wickets for Evison, Andrew Davies and a run out leaving Blackwood with a mountain to climb at 137 for 5. But the Blackwood batsmen, realising that victory was out of reach, dug in stubbornly, eventually finishing on 175 for 6, for a losing draw.
Sully 293/7 Blackwood 175 for 6 Click Here For Scorecard
Great Win at Swansea in Cup
Sunday in Swansea gave Centurions a chance to avenge the crushing defeat we suffered there in last season's National Knockout Cup. The home team batted first and were soon in trouble when Ryan Sylvester and Ian Nicolson ripped through the top order to leave Swansea tottering on 38 for 4. Then a fine partnership gave them some hope and the next wicket didn't fall until 100 more runs were on the board. Enter Tom Evison who proceeded to have Swansea in a spin, taking three wickets as the innings closed on 179 for 7.
Centurions' innings began by mirroring Swansea's. The ex Sully man Adam Davies was clearly enjoying himself, taking the wickets of both Jamie and Ryan Sylvester for very little, before having to go off injured. Lloyd Smith continued his good form with the bat by being Sully's top scorer with 41. Richard Ready then followed Adam Davies by having to leave proceedings early with a thumb injury. A great partnership between David Eskins and Gareth Sullivan swung the game in Sullys' favour before Gareth was run out. This was followed by another few wickets, which saw Centurions' hopes start to dwindle again. Richard Ready wasn't beaten yet, though, and when he returned to the action, he and Ian Nicolson, batting sensibly, saw us home in the final nail biting over. Richard finished on 35 not out and it was revealed that he had broken his thumb in 3 places. What a match!
Swansea 179/7 Sully 180 all out Click Here for scorecard
Defeat at Cardiff in Shortened Match
In a match of reduced overs due to a wet pitch, Cardiff beat Sully by 6 wickets, with Glamorgan and former Sully man Mike O'Shea getting a ton. After losing Ryan Sylvester for 20, Centurions' innings took off when Lloyd Smith went on to hit exactly 100 not out and put us in the driving seat. A great innings of 67 from Andrew Davies helped push the score along to an impresive 233 for 2 after the allotted 33 overs.
However, Mike O'Shea's 100 was just as impressive and was the backbone of a Cardiff batting display that went on to match Centurions in every department. Cardiff reached the target for the loss of 4 wickets.
Cardiff 234/4 Sully 233 all out Click Here For Score Card
New Season Starts with Hard Fought Victory for Centurions
On a windy, rain-affected day, the 1st XI began the defence of the South Wales Premier League title with a four wicket victory over Newport.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bat. This seemed like a good idea as they they raced to fifty in quick time. But three wickets fell in quick succession and at 65 for 3 the balance had swung in Sully's favour. The strong wind and some unfortunate shots played a part in the wickets, including that of Ian Thomas for 33.
Three rain breaks also contributed to the drama, with anxious faces looking out over the Bristol Channel for signs of blue skies. Eventually the rain was blown away towards Barry and the game continued without further interruption. Another mini collapse saw Newport struggling at 112 for 7. But a late rally, led by Kyle Tudge with 36, saw the visitors' total reach 171 when the final wicket went down.
Tom Evison bowled a good left arm line, to finish with 3 for 19, ably supported by Andrew Davies (3 for 24) and newcomer Ian Nicolson (2 for 55). The remaining wickets were shared amongst the other Sully bowlers.
In response, Sully didn't have it all their own way and found themselves losing early wickets, including a second ball duck for Ryan Sylvester. But Richard Ready (signed from Tondu) with 41 and Lloyd Smith (34) steered Centurions to victory. Other notable contributions came from Gareth Sulivan (29 not out) and a quickfire 20 not out from former Pentyrch batsman Richard Jones.
Sully 175/6 Newport 171 all out Click Here For The Full Scorecard