Centurions Miss Out On 20/20 Glory

On a cold and wet Cambridge day Centurions faced the highly fancied Ealing in the semi final of the area 20/20 competion at Cambridge.  Ealing had made 36 off 5.3 overs when the rains came and forced the teams off for a long break.  After much consulting of rule books and discussions with officials it was decided to reduce the match to 10 overs each, with Ealing  finally reaching 80 off their 10 overs.  Mike O'Shea and Jamie Sylvester picked up two wickets each to keep Centurions in with a chance.

In reply, Centurions looked to have lost the momentum and runs were slowing down.  At 36 for 3 in the 6th over things weren't looking too optimistic until Alex Wharf joined with Richard Ready.  Richard scored 14 not out and Alex crashed 36 not out in 18 balls to steer Sully home with 4 balls to spare.

Ealing 80 for 4  Sully 81 for 3 For Scorecard Click Here

Centurions Celebrate Cup Final Victory

Centurions completed the double by lifting the Gwalia Welsh Cup at the Swalec Stadium against Ammanford.  Skipper Jamie Sylvester won the toss and, with the promise of overcast skies, put the West Wales side into bat.  It didn't take long before brother Ryan picked up the wicket of Maloney, for 1, with only 12 runs on the board. Rhydian Harries was joined by the talented Alun Evans and they began the long task of rebuilding the innings.  The pair put on 70 for the second wicket, when Richard Ready had Harries cought behind for a well made 50.  Fisher (28) also fell to Ready with the score on 135 and when Alex Wharf picked up the wicket of Salter with the score on 152, Centurions looked to have regained the upper hand.  But Evans kept on going and found the boundary on numerous occasions, keeping Ammanford in it with a fine batting display.  However, none of the other batsmen reached double figures and the score was pegged back to 187 for 6 at the end of the 45 overs, with Evans unbeaten on 88.  Alex Wharf (2 for 40) and Richard Ready (2 for 34) were the most successful of the Centurions bowlers. The undoubted champagne moment was the brilliant running catch by Lloyd Smith to dismiss Jenkins, off the bowling of Jamie Sylvester. 

After tea Ryan and Jamie Sylvester raced through the first few overs, with Ryan once again playing aggressively.  But Jamie fell to Maynard for 2, with 20 runs on the board and Centurions, like Ammanford in their innings, had some rebuilding to do.  Ryan had put on another 60 runs with Lloyd Smith when he was caught by Salter off the bowling of Fisher for 43.  Lloyd was adjudged lbw when he had reached 36, with the score on 93 - another victim of Fisher.  But this only brought together Alex Wharf and Richard Ready, who put on another 43 before Richard was caught by Harries off Salter for 25.  Owen Dawkins hit a reverse sweep for 4 before being smartly stumped by Huw Jenkins, again off the bowling of Salter.  But Alex Wharf, who finished on 56 not out, and Chris Thorne (4 not out) saw Centurions home with 5 overs to spare.

The celebrations started immediately and Centurions can feel justifiably proud of the achievement of winning the Premier League and the Welsh Cup.  Ammanford took some consolation in the fact that Alun Evans was named Man of the Match for his excellent knock of 88 not out.

Ammanford 187/6  Sully 188/5

For Scorecard Click Here

Champions!

The Premier League title was wrapped up with this fine display at Pontarddulais.  Batting first, with Mike O'Shea and Ryan Sylvester in good form, Centurions raced to 85 before Ryan was bowled by Roberts for 46. Ryan is now getting closer to 1000 runs for the league season. Mike was joined by Mike Powell, who helped the score along to 121, before Mike O'Shea became the second of Roberts' victims, being caught for a well made 54.  Five runs later Mike Powell departed for 16, which brought Lloyd Smith and Jamie Sylvester together and they put together a stand of 86 for the fourth wicket, to put Centurions firmly in the driving seat. 

The partnership was broken by Glamorgan legend Robert Croft, who bowled Jamie for a very well made 30.  Jones then accounted for Lloyd, who had by this time reached his half century in some style. With only a handful of overs left Alex Wharf entered the fray and proceded to hit 26 runs in no time at all, to bring the score up to 240 for 5 at the end of the innings.  Maximum batting points achieved.  Carl Roberts ended with figures of 3 for 38 to be the best Pontarddulais bowler.

After tea the home innings got underway under ominous grey skies.  Only three overs had elapsed, with 8 runs on the board, before the rains came and it looked like we were in for a lengthy break.  But the clouds blew over and the stoppage time was kept to a minimum.  After looking comfortable, the opening partnership was finally broken when Jamie Sylvester caught and bowled Roberts for 45, with the score on 54. Carey, who required a runner after pulling up with a leg injury, was joined by skipper Arrowsmith and the pair moved the score on to 70 before a devastating spell saw Jamie claim three more wickets in the space of 8 runs.  With the score on 78, Jamie took two in two deliveries, including a first ball lbw to dismiss Robert Croft.  Things were looking bad for Pontarddulais, but an 89 run partnership for the fifth wicket between Harrison and Roberts lifted the home side's spirits.  Alex Wharf finally did the trick, bowling Roberts for a well made 45. Then, with the score on 190, Ryan Sylvester took a good catch in the deep to end the innings of Harrison off the bowling of Jonathan Bussey for 43.  The seventh wicket pair of Killa and Jones took the score along to 213 at the end, to secure an extra point for the hosts, but the day belonged to Sully.  Jamie Sylvester's final figures were an extremely impressive 4 for 25 off 12 overs, but this was a team effort, as it has been throughout the season.  Many congratulations to the boys for this wonderful achievement.

Pontarddulais 213 for 6  Sully 240 for 5

For Scorecard Click Here

Great Fightback Secures Final Spot

Centurions survived a massive batting collapse to secure a place in the Gwalia sponsored Welsh Cup with a fighting display in the field against Swansea at Burnham Avenue.

After winning the toss and batting, Centurions cruised along to 23 without much trouble. Then three wickets went down for just 2 runs. Ryan Sylvester was lbw to Venables for 9, followed by Jamie Sylvester (14) and Lloyd Smith (0) both falling victim to the impressive Daniel Rowe. Alex Wharf and Richard Ready stabilised things for a while before Alex became Rowe's third victim for 25, with the score on 55. Chris Thorne hit 22 and Liam Woolls impressed with a gutsy 32 to help the cause, but with the innings coming to an end with the final score of 164 all out, Swansea must have fancied their chances at tea. Richard Ready top scored with 36, while Rowe (3 for 28) and Evans (2 for 22) were the pick of the Swansea attack. There were no fewer than five LBW decisions in the Centurions' innings.

In almost a carbon copy of the Sully innings, Swansea reached 24 without loss and then lost three wickets for just 4 runs, with Alex Wharf and Ryan Sylvester accounting for Sheppard, Evans and Batchelor. Daniel Rowe was a steadying influence and while he was at the crease, Swansea looked confident. But wickets kept tumbling at the other end, with Jamie Sylvester and Lloyd Smith enjoying themselves. Lloyd grabbed two wickets for just 3 runs in a two over spell and after Jamie eventually bowled Rowe for 40 the end was inevitable. He duly had Powell out LBW with the score on 99 to secure the victory in the 29th over. Jamie ended with the marvellous figures of 4 for 20.

Centurions now face Ammanford in the final on 22 August at the Swalec Stadium

Sully 164 all out Swansea 99 all out

For Scorecard Click Here

The 1st XI have one hand on the Swalec League title after this comprehensive 8 wicket victory over Newport at Burnham Avenue.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Newport found themselves two wickets down before a run was on the board. Both Rees and Hassan were victims of Alex Wharf, who was in outstanding form with the ball. Ryan Sylvester decided he wasn't to be left out and he picked up three wickets for just 18 runs to decimate the visiting batting. Lloyd Smith posted figures of 2 for 9 off 6 overs and Liam Woolls got in on the act at the end with 1 for 12 off 2.5. The Newport innings evntually came to a halt in the 29th over with only 79 runs scored. Alex Wharf finished with 4 for 27 and Max Scarr, with 25 not out was the pick of the visitors' batting. Owain Lovering enjoyed his first XI return with four catches behind the stumps.

After surviving an early scare, with both Ryan and Jamie Sylvester being out, with the score on 37, Centurions took only 16 overs to hit the required runs. Mike O'Shea (36 not out) and Lloyd Smith, with 20 not out, steered the ship home without any further loss.

Although it isn't mathematically certain yet, it will take a miraculous combination of events to prevent Centurions from landing the title next week.

For Scorecard Click Here

20/20 Success at Swalec

Centurions won the Swalec 20/20 Competition at the Swalec Stadium in a fantastic display of big hitting and fantastic fielding. 

In the semi final Centurions batted first against Usk and when the normally free scoring Ryan Sylvester played on to Lee, for 21, Usk must have felt they'd made a significant inroad to the Centurions' batting.  Howver, this brought Alex Wharf and Lloyd Smith together and they proceeded to put the bowlers to the sword.  Both hit the boundary with regularity, including some big sixes, to take the score along to a massive 214 for 2 after the 20 overs.  Lloyd was out in the last over for 71 and Wharfy was unbeaten on 95 at the end.

The Usk innings was always hampered by the fact that they needed to sustain an improbable run rate of almost 11 runs per over from the outset.  Wickets began to tumble and when the 20 overs had been completed, Centurions had won by a huge margin of 101 runs. The fielding was superb, with a couple of top drawer run outs, courtesy of Lloyd Smith and Liam Wools, adding to the wickets taken by Alex Wharf, Richard Ready, Jamie Sylvester and Jonathan Bussey.  However, the victory was clouded when wicket keeper Roger Clitheroe sustained a bad shoulder injury, causing Lloyd Smith to take over behind the stumps for the last few overs.

Sully 214 for 2 Usk 113 for 6

For Scorecard Click Here

For Semi Final Photos Click Here

The final was against Swansea and again Centurions batted first.  Things started badly when Ryan Sylvester was run out for 8, but once again Alex Wharf and Lloyd Smith did some damage to the bowling figures as they took the score along to 98, when Lloyd was out for 13.  Then Alex was caught on the boundary, one short of his half century, and a mini collapse followed, with Centurions slumping to 135 for 6.  Gareth Sullivan and Jamie Sylvester then put on 30 and when the last ball was bowled Gareth had reached 30 not out and Jamie 18 not out, to leave the score as 165 for 6.  However, the entire innings was overshadowed by the dislocated shoulder sustained by Swansea skipper Mark Payne, which caused him to miss the rest of the match.

The Swansea innings also had a poor start, with Alex Wharf having Sheppard caught behind by Owain Lovering for 3, with the score on 6.  Hughes and Lowen took the score along to 27 when Ryan Sylvester caught Lowen off the bowling of Lloyd Smith, for 16.  The Centurion bowlers continued to make inroads and one by one the wickets began to fall.  Opener Hughes was finally out for 35 and his was the major contribution to the final total of 109 for 7.  Alex Wharf was presented with the Man of the Match trophy for his 49 runs and bowling figures of 2 for 14. The Centurions team supporters were duly showered with the winning team's champagne at the end.

Sully 165 for 6  Swansea 109 for 7