Big Defeat to End Season

After several weeks with no game due to the weather the 4th XI were pleasantly surprised when the Rhoose pitch survived the rains to be declared playable for this final league match of the season against promotion chasing Aberdare.  With Terry (JT) Sylvester playing his final 4th XI match before hanging up his boots and Mick Fisher dropping hints that he finally may be reliquishing the captaincy, it was an historic occasion.  However, the performance left a lot to be desired. Terry signed off with a 9 and opening partner Tom Davies hit 13 before falling.  Top scorer was Mark Burnett (17) as Centurions crashed to 86 all out after only 31 overs. Hughes (3 for 14) Lewis (3 for 20) and Dale (4 for 25) were on good form for Aberdare.

After tea Centurions got a breakthrough in the 3rd over when John Wooden picked up the wicket of Hughes for just 2, with only 7 runs on the board.  Lee Jones bowled well for no reward, conceding only 7 runs from his 5 overs.  Luke Burnett and Iwan Baker picked up two wickets each, but there was no real leeway for error, with only 86 to defend.  Aberdare achieved the victory and promotion, in the 30th over for the loss of 5 wickets.  Evans top scored with 41, supported by Vale (19) and York (12 not out).  For Sully, John Wooden's figures of 1 for 15 off ten overs were impressive.

So, another season draws to a close and once again the league table is upside down! The 4ths have enjoyed their cricket and hopefully next year may actually start winning some more games.

Sully 86 all out  Aberdare 88/5

Fourths Lose Out In Spite Of Spirited Show

The 4^th XI made the short trip to league leaders Radyr and, with several people unavailable, and a couple of 11^th hour withdrawals, took the field with only nine men.  Of the 9, Denholm Edmonds was carrying a hand injury, which made it difficult for him in the field and skipper Mick Fisher was in need of a vet with a shotgun, as he was lame!

After losing the toss, Centurions fielded and Tom Edwards made the breakthrough in the second over with the wicket of Morgan, with the score on 13. Luke Burnett picked up a wicket when he bowled Morris for 7 to leave Radyr on 33 for 2 in the ninth over.  However, Radyr’s opener, Thompson, kept making scoring shots and steadily built up the score, with the help of a couple of middle order partnerships of 31, with Butlin (23) and 52 with Clode, who also hit 23, took the score along to 216 for 8 after the 45 overs. Thompson ended unbeaten for an excellent 104 at the end. Wickets were shared around, with one each for Tom Edwards (who posted a very good 1 for 28 off 10 overs) Luke Burnett and Geoff Kingston.  Mark Burnett bowled well for his two wickets and Mick Fisher picked up 3 for 43 off 8 overs. The missing two men would have helped keep the score down, but nonetheless, it was a great display by the nine men in the field, with some heroics, including a couple of great catches from Jim Ord and Geoff Kingston. 

After tea Jim Ord and Ian Edwards started well, but Ian skied a ball to be caught for 2 off the bowling of Evans, with the score on 7.  This brought Paul Harrison to the crease and he and Jim Ord put on 48 for the second wicket.  However, the introduction of Evans proved to be crucial, as he delivered 10 overs of accurate pace to return figures of 2 for 13, with three maidens.  Jim Ord wore a fair few of these quick deliveries, and will have the bruises to show for it! Jim hit two huge sixes in his 48, but when he was finally out for a well-made 48 it looked like curtains. However, the sixth wicket partnership of Luke Burnett and Tom Edwards played the Radyr attack extremely well, waiting for the bad ball and sensibly defending the rest.  Together they put on 78, with 26 for Tom and 39 not out for Luke, to earn three valuable batting points for Centurions, with the innings ending on 170 all out. 

All in all a marvellous display against great odds, which was a credit to the club.  The three juniors who played all performed admirably, not just Tom and Luke with their batting and bowling performances, but also Denholm Edmonds, whose bravery in the field, with only one good hand, was a great example to us all.

Radyr 216/8 Sully 170 all out

The 4th XI, were heavily beaten at home to Pontllanfraith, as the batting misfired.  A week after recording the 4ths highest ever total, it was down to earth with a bump.  After a decent start, Tom Davies was bowled for 8 and then, a week after hitting his first ever fifty, Luke Burnett was out for just 1 run. Only Christian Bruce was able to stick around as wickets tumbled around him.  By the time he was out in the 22nd over, for a well crafted 48, the innings was all but over.  It finally ended a couple of overs later with the score on 83.  Davies, with 5 for 26, was the visitors' best bowler.

The Pontllanfraith reply was sensible, with both openers realising there was ample time to get the runs.  Reece Bennett and Lee Jones  both bowled well with no luck and Luke Burnett and Iwan Baker, although putting in good performances, couldn't make the breakthrough.  Not even a splendid 2 over spell for just 3 runs from Gethin 'Murali' Stone brought forth a wicket.  The target was reached in the 26th over without loss.  Tule just missed out on a half century, as his winning shot brought his score to 49 not out. (Somewhere in Barry a small voodoo doll of Mick Fisher is being punctured by a smiling JT!!)

Sully 83 all out Pontllanfraith 87 for 0

Oz and Luke's Heroics are in Vain, as 4ths Toil in The Sun

Centurions Pay for Dropped Catches

Youngsters Shine, But Victory Snatched Away in Last Over

The 4ths travelled to Caerphilly & Bedwas and lost narrowly despite some heroics by the younger members of the side.  The game commenced on an under prepared green wicket and Centurions were asked to bat after losing the toss.

Makeshift openers Jim Ord and Paul Harrison got Centurions off to a great start and put on 66 for the first wicket before Paul fell for 28.  Jim followed soon after, with the score on 72 for 2, caught for 34 (all but 2 coming from boundaries).  Then the traditional 4th XI collapse followed as one by one wickets tumbled.  At 123 for 7 Geoff Kingston and Mark Burnett came together to add some quick runs and put on 25 before Mark fell for 18. The last wicket partnership of Kingston and Mick Fisher took the score along to 187 for 9 after the 45 overs - Geoff top scored with 39 not out.

Following tea, Centurions started well and Lee Jones managed to make a breakthrough in the 5th over, bowling Williams for 6, with the score on 17.  However, the normally steady Paul Fisher wasn't on song and the runs began to flow. Farkes (46) and Rogers (54) put on a hundred for the 4th wicket, to put the home side in the driving seat. But some fine bowling from Lee Jones (4 for 30) Iwan Baker (2 for 37) and Luke Burnett (1 for 8) dragged the game back and led to a tense finale.  Paul Fisher was no balled for having three men behind square, just as he took a wicket.  But this disappointment changed to delight two balls later when Rogers was dismissed following a fine reflex catch by Peter Barnet. Then Luke Burnett was also no balled for not telling the umpire his action as he came back for his second spell. 

The last over commenced with the scores tied and Green hit a single to secure the match for Caerphilly with 4 balls left.

A fine game that went right to the wire, but the luck wasn't with Sully at all.  All of the team should be proud of the performance, especially the three junior bowlers - so near but so far.

Caerphilly & Bedwas 188/8 Sully 187/9

Defeat at Rhoose, But Plenty of Plus Points

Defeat for 4ths as Wembley Takes its Toll

The 4th XI, with a patched up side due to Cardiff City’s Wembley appearance, lost heavily at Wenvoe against a strong Radyr side.

The visitors batted first on a glorious sunny day and were soon two wickets down, with Paul Fisher and Joe Francis taking one apiece, but Walters (43) and Morris (55) soon got to grips with the makeshift Centurions attack. Young Tom Edwards bowled a tidy line and was unfortunate not to take more than the one wicket. Both Tom and Sam Shelley performed well in the field, along with Ian Edwards and John Rose behind the stumps. Bob Nash belied his years with some energetic stops. Paul Fisher ended with 2 for 38 off his 10 overs, with Gethin Stone and Mick Fisher getting in on the act by burgling a wicket each. Then some late big hitting by Sullivan and Butlin took the score along to a formidable 234 for 6 after the 45 overs.

After tea Terry Sylvester and Bob Nash strode out, rolling back the years to face a very accurate Radyr bowling attack. Terry was first to go, being caught off Clode for just 1. An almighty collapse followed, which saw Centurions reeling at 16 for 5. Then Paul Fisher and Tom Edwards shared a 6th wicket stand of 62 to give the score some respectability. This was a great partnership, with Paul clubbing everything out of sight, including a huge 6, and Tom playing very correctly, picking up his runs before Paul finally fell on 43 and Tom was trapped LBW for a well crafted 21. The last wickets fell pretty soon after that as Centurions ended on 92 all out.

This was a big defeat, but team spirit remains good and a return to winning ways will not be too far away.