Weather is the Winner at Caerphilly

The 3rd XI game at Caerphilly was in an interesting situation when rain brought an early end.

Caerphilly and Bedwas batted first and reached 223 all out, with M Davies scoring a superb 99.  However, Centurions made life difficult for themselves by conceding 47 extras, with 34 being wides. Shae Ellis, with 3 wickets for 22, was the most successful Centurion bowler, with decent support from Nick Jones (2 for 4).

After tea, Centurions began their innings with one eye on the skies, which looked threatening. Herbie Miller was top scorer with 30 and Christian Bruce hit 20 before the rains came down, with the score at 85 for 4.  Unfortunately there was no further play and the game was abandoned.  The 3rd XI's slim chance of promotion now appears to have disappered, with only one match remaining.

Caerphilly and Bedwas 223 all out  Centurions 85/4 (match abandoned)

The 3rds picked up 25 points at Panteg, with this emphatic 8 wicket victory.  Skipper Dave Sylvester won the toss and had no hesitation in putting the home side in to bat on a very green wicket. This proved an excellent decision as the home side were skittled out for a meagre 67 with Centurions easily reaching the target in just 12.3 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets.

Centurions fielded probably the strongest 3rd XI of the season and both opening bowlers Lewis Doel and Liam Bennett made full use of the conditions as wickets tumbled.

Simonds was caught off Liam Bennett for 1 by Max Pryce off a skier and this opened the floodgates. Only Evans, with 21, reached double figures as Centurions produced some excellent cricket with 4 wickets for 17 runs for Liam Bennett, 2 for 15 from Lewis Doel and 2 for 16 for Nathan Cuddihy. Ben Callow, with one wicket, completed the rout.

Max Pryce and Herbie Miller opened for Centurions and although they lost an early wicket when Herbie was out chasing a very wide delivery, Nick Jones and Max Pryce took Centurions within 3 runs of victory when Jones played a rash shot and was stumped for 22. Steve Morse soon hit the 3 required for victory with Max Pryce not out on 27.

Panteg 67 all out.  Centurions 68 for 2. 

Defeat at Rhoose to League Leaders

The 3rd XI entertained Radyr at Rhoose last Saturday. Radyr are the league leaders but Centurions almost upset the form book despite losing Don Sylvester before the game when he had to pull out through illness .

Batting first, Centurions struggled for runs on a slow wicket which lacked bounce and lost early wickets. A stubborn 18 from Ben Callow and an excellent 26 from Lewis Doel gave Centurions a score of 132 all out in the 44th over - not a big score but in the conditions a challenging one and so it proved.

Radyr slipped to 29-4 with Ben Callow claiming 2 wickets with a fine 10 over spell of leg spin well supported by Lewis Doel, but the turning point was when Evans was dropped early on, he then went on to master the conditions and win the match for the league leaders with a fine 68 not out.

Centurions 132 all out  Radyr 133/5

The 3rd XI visited Whitchurch Heath and on a slow wicket and rough outfield saw the home side win the toss and elect to bat first.

The early wicket of Hopcraft lbw to Doel for 7 saw Lucey and Perrett in a partnership which looked to be taking the game away from Sully, but skipper Wooden introduced Banjo into the attack and things changed dramatically as he took 2 wickets in 2 balls, Perrett caught for 21 and Pearce bowled for 0.

Lucey followed, lbw to Cuddihy for 32, and despite a fine 32 from Jayaraman Centurions were very much back in the game as Doel with 2 late wickets, Banjo, Don Sylvester and skipper Wooden 1 each, had the home side back in the pavilion for 136, not a large total but a challenging one in difficult conditions.

Don Sylvester and Nick Jones opened with Jones playing a fine innings whilst Don Sylvester was likely to get his name in the Guinness Book of Records as he took 24 overs to score just 2.

Jones went for 49 and Centurions were behind the run rate. Morse produced his best innings for the club with a brisk 27 not out as Sully scraped home in the 44th over.

Whitchurch Heath 136 all out Centurions 137/9

Too Steep a Mountain to Climb

The 3rd XI travelled to Mountain Ash for the start of the second half of the season with six changes from the previous week due to work and holidays, and came up against a very strong home side.

Batting first, Centurions were soon in trouble and some bad shot selections saw Max Pryce back in the Pavilion second ball for 2.

Worse followed as Don Sylvester was run out in a mix-up with Nick Jones, who then played a poor shot after looking in good form, and was caught for 16. Steve Morse did the same trying to repeat his shot off the previous ball and was caught on the long off boundary for 13.

Adam Gilliatt went for 6, Ricky Griffett for 0, Nathan Cuddihy for 8, amd Sam Banga for 0. It was left to skipper Dave Sylvester, with an innings of Donny-like proportions - just 19 not out off 26 yawn inducing overs - along with the returning Lewis Doel, to get Centurions over 100, but only just, as the innings ended on 109 all out in the 41st over.

This was never going to be enough and so it proved, as, aided by Centurions dropping three catches, the home side coasted to victory by 9 wickets.

Centurions 109 all out  Mountain Ash 110/1

Thirds In Charge at Wenvoe

THE 3rd XI produced a fine performance at Wenvoe against Aberdare, winning by 5 wickets.

Aberdare won the toss and batted first.  The return of the 3rd XI Captain, John Wooden, unavailable because of work, strengthened the Sully bowling attack.

Nathan Cuddihy, showing great improvement this season, claimed the first wicket when he bowled Johnston for 7, and smart work by Ben Callow ran out Ireland for 4, but Derrick and Dempsey added 79 for the third wicket and at 105 a big total looked on the cards.

But skipper Wooden with 3 wickets and Ben Callow, returning from his exams, also claiming 3 wickets, put the brakes on the visitors as they were bowled out for 162 - a very good effort.

Centurions reply was built around the evergreen Herbie Miller, aided by the up-and-coming youngsters of the club. Herbie batted through the innings for a fine 62 not out, with Ben Spear 36, and wicketkeeper Adam Gilliatt 24, making sure of a comfortable victory.

Aberdare 162 all out Centurions 163/5.

THE 3rd XI entertained Caerphilly and Bedwas at Wenvoe. Winning the toss they batted first, but were soon in trouble.

The home side lost 7 wickets for 49 runs and only skipper Dave Sylvester and Nathan Cuddihy brought respectability to the total.

Tom Davies and Adam Gilliattt, with a late flourish, saw Centurions reach 112-9 at the end of their 45 overs - a total which was never going to be enough.

The visitors also struggled on the difficult track but Centurions helped them as they dropped 5 catches, and Caerphilly and Bedwas reached the target for the loss of 4 wickets.

Centurions 112/9 Caerphilly & Bedwas 113/4

 Big Defeat at Chepstow

The 3rd XI travelled to Chepstow and skipper Dave Sylvester regretted his decision at tea of putting the home side in to bat, as they rattled up a total of 283 for 4.  The home side's stars were Dimond (85) and Bevington, who hit 70.  Nathan Cuddihy's 2 for 45 was the best of the Sully bowling

In reply Centurions could only muster 122 thanks to debutant Max Pryce, who hit 44, Don Sylvester a dogged 18, and a quickfire 11 from the flamboyant Nathan Cuddihy.  For Chepstow, the star was Huggett, who notched up an impressive 5 for 22

Chepstow 283/4 Sully 122 all out

For scorecard click here 

Centurions Crash at Radyr

 A Centurion side, containing six of last week's 4th XI due to the absences caused by the Cardiff City play off final, lost to a Radyr side that look to be the ones to watch in Division 4.

The home side rattled up 240 for 5, with Skirrow (48) and Donovan (46) being top scorers.  Herbie Miller picked up 2 for 41 and Nathan Cuddihy bowled well for his figures of 1 for 23 off 10 overs, but Centurions struggled in the heat as Radyr piled on the runs.

In reply Don Sylvester played a test match innings of 32 in 40 overs, with brother Dave only slightly behind on 11 in about 20 overs.  Nathan Cuddihy hit 23 not out and Paul Harrison batted well, but the home attack, with Morris picking up 2 for 9, had the upper hand as Sully ended on 106 for 6

Radyr 240/5  Sully 106/6

Five for Donny as Centurions Win Again

The 3rd XI contiued the great start to the season with a fine 7 wicket win over Whitchurch Heath at Wenvoe.

Whitchurch Heath batted first and, against an excellent opening spell by both John Wooden and Liam Bennett, they were soon in trouble and were reduced to 29-4, with 2 wickets for Bennett who ended with figures of 2 for 9 from 8 overs and Wooden, 1 for 10 from 7 overs.

Ben Spear picked up the other wicket but a 65 run partnership between Newman and Mehti held Centurions up, taking the score to 94 before the introduction of fast approaching pension age Don Sylvester put Sully back in control as he removed Mehti for 26, running him out after a fine pick-up and throw by big-un Nick Jones.

He then bowled Newman for 27, had Thomas caught for 0 and bowled Bishop, Evans and Usman as the visitors added just 9 runs to be bowled out for 106 with Don taking 5 for 19.

Centurions' reply got off to a stuttering start as Ellis was run out for 5, Bruce was bowled by Bishop for 9 and Miller was bowled by Usman for 12.

At 33 for 3 Centurions were struggling a little, but Nick Jones produced an electrifying innings of 39 not out and with Ben Spear giving him full support with 27 not out, he saw the side home to a comfortable victory and they remain top of the table.

Sully 107/3  Whitchurch Heath 106 all out

Centurions Conquer The Mountain

The 3rd XI were in excellent early season form with a tremendous 9 wicket victory over Mountain Ash at Wenvoe.

Centurions stand in skipper Dave Sylvester won the toss and had no hesitation in putting the visitors in to bat on a damp wicket. At first it did not look a good decision but the end result proved him right.

Mountain Ash made an excellent start with Roberts and Wyatt putting on 45 runs at a rapid rate before Nathan Cuddihy bowled Wyatt for 10. If he can find more consistency he is going to command a regular place in the 3rd XI.

A Roberts was run out by a Cuddihy dive, then Walters and Roberts took the score to 100 before Centurions claimed the vital wicket of Roberts, caught off the bowling of Ricky Griffett.

Skipper Sylvester, seeing the slow wicket, now operated with 2 slow bowlers and that paid dividends, as Mountain Ash lost their last 6 wickets for 50 runs - being bowled out for 147. Herbie Miller, with 2 wickets and Griffett, with 3, put Centurions in control.

Centurions were never in trouble against the visitors' attack. Miller and the flamboyant Shae Ellis added 60 runs for the first wicket, when Ellis was caught for 25. Ben Spear joined Miller and rode his luck as he was dropped three times. Miller passed 50 as Centurions strolled to victory.

Centurions 148/1 Mountain Ash 147 all out.

Welsh Club Cricket Conference Division 4

2010 Fixtures - 3rd XI

(Home Fixtures at Rhoose or Wenvoe as indicated)

May

1st Sully 148/1 Mountain Ash 147 all out

8th No Fixture

15th Sully 107/3 Whitchurch Heath 106 ao

22nd Radyr 240/5 Sully 106/6 

29th Panteg (h) WENVOE OFF

June

5th Chepstow 283/4 Sully 122 ao

12th Sully 112/9 Caerphilly & Bedwas 113/4

19th Girlings-Croesyceiliog (a) OFF

26th Sully 163/5 Aberdare 162 ao

July

3rd Mountain Ash 110/1 Sully 109 ao

10th No Fixture

17th Whitchurch Heath 136 ao Sully 137/9

24th Sully 132 ao Radyr 133/5

31st Panteg 67 ao  Sully 68/2

Aug

7th Chepstow (h) WENVOE OFF

14th Caerphilly & Bedwas 223 ao Sully 85/4 (match abandoned)

21st Girlings-Croesyceiliog (h) RHOOSE  OFF

   28th Aberdare (a) OFF