1st XI Match Reports 2008
28/6/08 Disaster at Sully
The 1st XI slumped to their 3rd league defeat of the season against struggling Bridgend.
At tea it looked like the recent slump had well and truly finished, as Bridgend had been bowled out for just 121.
Skipper Ryan Sylvester had a magnificent spell with the ball and posted figures of 4/4 off ten overs (including a fantastic 7 maidens). Jamie was also in on the action and he took 2/29 off seven overs.
But the combination of Weaver (5/28 off eight overs) and our old pal Mike O’Shea (3/23) meant that Centurions were left with an uphill struggle - finally ending on 76 all out.
Everyone here at the club is in no doubt that the recent slump will be overcome - and the Champions' season will be back on track next week. Good Luck Boys!
Sully 76 all out Bridgend 121 all out
22nd June 2008 Dream is Over at St Helen's
Swansea ended our Cockspur Cup run win a 9-wicket victory in a pretty one-sided affair at St Helen's. The day did not start well because the coach didn't turn up, so cars were the order of the day - then there was a massive traffic hold-up.
Centurions batted first and never got going against an accurate home attack. Jamie Sylvester, showing extreme patience, batting 33 overs for 39 runs and James Langworth with 21, were the only players to show any real resistance as Centurions were all out for 129.
Swansea reached the target in just 25 overs for the loss of just 1 wicket.
Swansea 130/1 Sully 129 all out
20/6/08Defeat at Penarth
Centurions batted first at Penarth on a day that threatened rain and posted a useful total of 229 for 9 at the end of the allotted fifty overs with Ryan Sylvester reaching yet another 50.
James Langworth's return to form continued with a fine 41 and Gareth Sullivan played probably his best innings for the 1st XI with a superb 36. Davies, with 3 wickets, was Penarth's most successful bowler.
Penarth's reply started slowly and after 31 overs the score was 92 for 1. At this stage of their innings Centurions were 127 for 3, but from this point on Penarth took control as Sidford and Shantry put their feet on the pedal, taking the score to 159 in 40 overs.
Shantry was caught behind off Andrew Davies for 66 and James Docherty and Sidford took the score to 183 when Sidford's fine innings came to an end, stumped by Sam Docherty off Ryan Sylvester for 82.
Although 2 further wickets fell, the experienced Richard Skone produced a fine 29 not out to see Penarth home with 2 balls to go.
Penarth 233/5 Sully 229/9
13/6/08 Tondu Tamed!
The 1st XI showed that their defeat at Sudbrook last week was a mere hiccup as they beat Tondu at Burnham Avenue, with a powerhouse batting display from the middle order.
Tondu won the toss and put Centurions in - but the pairing of Lloyd Smith and James Langworth ensured a healthy total of 233 for four at the end of the 50 overs.
Lloyd hit a marvellous 113 and Langers reached 55 in the Centurions total. For Tondu, skipper Richard Ready took two for 45.
When the visitors batted, only John Bussey (37) managed to defy the Centurions attack and Tondu slumped to 108 all out. Jamie Sylvester taking three for 19 and Tom Evison three for 25.
Sully 233/4 Tondu 108 all out
8th June 2008 Into the Semi Finals
Centurions progressed into the regional semi finals of the Cockspur Cup with an emphatic win over St Fagans at Burnham Avenue.
Batting first, Sully made an excellent start and 86 runs were added by the tried and tested opening partnership of Jamie and Ryan Sylvester.
With Ryan looking in excellent form he was caught for yet another half century but a mini collapse saw Centurions lose 3 wickets for the addition of just 41 runs.
Cometh the hour cometh the men - Tom Evison and Andrew Davies who both gave a superb display of batting and intelligent cricket. Davies was the aggressor with a magnificent 83 not out and Evison hit a controlled 56 to add 134 runs and take the team to a formidable 261 at the end of their 45 overs.
St Fagans reply got off to a poor start as Andrew Davies bowled a fantastic spell of 9 overs for just 6 runs. Two wickets fell by the time the score reached 20 and although Merrilatt with 35 and Salmons 41 added 85 for the third wicket the run rate was well behind the asking rate.
Ar 105 Centurions took full control of the match and St Fagans were reduced to 141-8, Tom Evison having a great day as he claimed 4 wickets.
A late flurry from Williams (45 ) and Slade (37) made no difference to the result as Centurions strolled to an emphatic victory.Centurions 261/5. St Fagans 222 all out.
6/6/08 Bogey Side Trip Up Centurions
In spite of a great all round performance from Lloyd Smith, the 1st XI were beaten for the first time this season by perennial bogey side Sudbrook. The home team batted first and were restricted to 191 for 8, with O'Leary being top scorer with 79. Lloyd Smith took 2 for 16 off just 5 overs.
The usually deadly Centurions top order just didn't fire - only Lloyd Smith, with a tremendous 84, and Jamie Sylvester (23) had decent individual scores as the wickets fell at regular intervals. In the end Centurions fell just 2 runs short as they finished on 189 all out. Sudbrook's hero was O'Leary again, as he ended with figures of 4 for 32.
Sudbrook 191/8 Sully 189 all out
31/5/08 Centurions too Strong for Cardiff
Centurions batted first and made an excellent start with 72 runs added for the first wicket, Ryan Sylvester going to yet another 50 before he was caught off Thomas.
Lloyd Smith joined Jamie Sylvester and they took the score to 104 before Jamie was caught for 19. James Langworth, who joined Lloyd, is certainly looking his old self, and they put on 74 runs for the third wicket.
Cardiff were looking very jaded at this stage, but Langworth was caught off Tariq for 38 and just 8 runs later the on-form Smith was caught for a fine 60.
Tom Evison played a little cameo of an innings before going for 23 and David Eskins put bat to ball in a quickfire 21 not out to take Centurions to a more than useful total of 246 for 7 and maximum batting points.
Cardiff obviously believed they had no chance to reach the total, as they made no attempt to go for the runs, batting out 50 overs for just 122 and the loss of 8 wickets, to deny Centurions 1 point.
Tom Evison completed a fine all-round performance taking 4 wickets and Jamie Sylvester picked up 2. Kirtley and Hardman (who both scored 26) were the main contributors to Cardiff's total.
Sully 246/7 Cardiff 122/8
24/5/08 Eskins Saves the Day!
A low scoring match at Burnham Avenue was won by Centurions, but not without a scare or two. Usk batted first and were bowled out for just 147 (out of which Clayton top scored with 87). Three wickets apiece for Dave Eskins, Ryan Sylvester and Terry (More come backs than Frank Sinatra) Williams were the highlights.
In reply Ryan (21) and Jamie (33) Sylvester got the innings off to a solid start, but some mid order wobbles left Dave Eskins with plenty to do - and he rose to the challenge by hitting 40 to help steer the ship home for the loss of 7 wickets.
Sully 149/7 Usk 146 all out
18th May 2008 Huge win at Corsham!
A busload of Centurions and supporters set off from the 3 Horseshoes on Sunday to travel to Corsham for the Cockspur Cup 2nd Round match. The Wiltshire side won the toss and put Sully in - a decision that would come back to haunt them!
The Sylvester brothers proceeded to take the home attack apart with Ryan as usual being the aggressor. The ball was lost over nearby garden walls no fewer than 5 times as Ryan piled up the runs - and by the time Jamie was out for a well crafted 70 the partnership was worth 284. Ryan continued to smash the ball to all corners and reached 245 before being run out. His standing ovation was well earned, this being one of the best innings' he will have ever produced. It contained no fewer than 15 sixes and very few, if any, chances.
Following Ryan's departure Lloyd Smith (46 not out) and James Langworth (15)continued the assault, both hitting sixes as the total crept up towards the magical 400. Only some last over wickets, as the Centurions batsmen threw the bat at everything, gave the home bowling figures anything like respectability - the final score of 407 for 5 was well deserved.
After tea the home batsmen were dispatched back to the pavilion at regular intervals a s the bowlers carried on the work - wickets for Andrew Davies (1) Terry Williams (2) David Eskins (2) Tom Evison (2) and three for Jamie Sylvester sent the Corsham team out of the competition with a final score of 129 all out.
The celebrations stareted immediately and continued on the coach home. By the time the 3 Horseshoes had been reached the party was in full swing. The next round is at home and our old friends St Fagans are the opponents.
Corsham 129 all out Sully 407 for 5
