Cup Competitions
Gwalia Welsh Cup
1st Rd - Bye
2nd Rd 29/5/11 Sully 201/2 Malpas 195/7
3rd Rd 26/6/11 Sully 273/6 Usk 127 all out
4th Rd 10/7/11 Swansea 232/8 Sully 228 all out
Centurions Lose Thriller in Spite of Lloyd and Dave's Heroics
Centurions travelled to St Helen's in Swansea and were beaten with one ball to spare in an entertaining match that could have gone either way right up to the end.
Batting first on a very hot day and with the Swansea air show providing a bizarre backdrop to events, Centurions lost opener Ryan Sylvester in the first over, caught and bowled by Hubschmid. Chris Thorne followed in the 10th over, caught behind off the bowling of Aingworth for 13. Gareth Sullivan came and went without troubling the scorers and Sully were in trouble st 33 for 3. But Lloyd Smith, who has been in fine form with the bat of late, took the game by the scruff of the neck and began scoring with ease. He shared a stand of 68 with Roger Clitheroe, who went for 17, with the score on 101. Then the normally unflappable Jamie Sylvester was unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a marvellous ball from Hubschmid, being caught behind first ball, to set the alarm bells ringing once more. But David Eskins came to the crease fresh from Saturday's half century and joined Lloyd in a wonderfully entertaining partnership of 101, both men producing some fine shots. Lloyd eventually fell for a well crafted 81. An unfortunate run out meant Tom Evison left without scoring, but Dave Eskins continued to find the gaps and was finally caught out for 79 (including 9 fours and a six) of the bowling of Hubschmid, who ended with 5 for 51, as Centurions finished on 228 for 9.
The Swansea innings got off to a slow start with Ryan Sylvester and Lloyd Smith maintaining a tight line and frustrating the opening batsmen. Two wickets in two overs brought the score to 23 for 2 after 8 overs and Centurions looked in control at this stage. But then a half century stand followed, between Hubschmid (29) and Pass and another partnership of 99 between Pass (75) and James (56) swung the game back towards Swansea. With 7 balls to go they required 14 to win. This soon became 8 from 6 as Batcup hit Jamie Sylvester for a big 6 off the last ball of the penultimate over. A four from the first ball off Lloyd Smith's last over relieved the pressure for the home side and a couple of scrambled leg byes and a single off the bat kept the momentum going. With two balls remaining scores were level, but this changed on the 5th ball of the over as a boundary secured the win for Swansea.
A disappointing end but it was a fantastic day's cricket that was thoroughly appreciated by all who watched.
Swansea 232/8 Sully 228/9
Lloyd and Jamie Star in Big Win
Centurions hosted Usk in the 3rd round of the Welsh Cup on the hottest day of the year and ran out winners by 146 runs. Batting first Centurions reached 51 when Shaz Rehan (promoted from the seconds after a string of big scores) went for 17. Ryan Sylvester reached 42 before he fell to Steadman, with the score on 76. Lloyd Smith and Chris Thorne took the score along to 133 when Chris was bowled by James for 26. Then a 97 run partnership betwenn Lloyd Smith and Gareth Sullivan, punctuated by an array of boundaries, ended when Lloyd was eventually caught off the bowling of Portz for a well deserved century. Gareth was out for 34 and skipper Jamie Sylvester reached 30 not out at the end, as Centurions posted an impresive 273 for 6.
After tea, Usk had reached 26 when Daniel Rowe removed Perrett for 13. The second wicket came 5 runs later, with Ryan Sylvester having Warwick caught behind for 4. A 3rd wicket stand of 47 between James and Portz ended when Portz was caught and bowled by Tom Evison for 43. Lloyd Bruce got in on the act when he took the wicket of Catchpole for a duck, thanks in no small part to a fine catch by Tom Evison. After this, the remaining wickets all went to Jamie Sylvester. The Usk batsmen, with the sole exception of Oliver James, who ended on 50 not out, had no answer to the Sully skipper's accurate spin as he finished with an impressive 6 for 18 off 6 overs. The visitors slumped to a final total of 127 all out after 32 overs.
Centurions will now travel to Swansea in the next round.
Sully 273/6 Usk 127 all out
For Scorecard Click Here
Centurions Win InThe Wind
Centurions hosted Malpas in the 2nd Round of the Gwalia sponsored Welsh Cup and ran out convincing winners by 8 wickets on a cold and blustery Sunday afternoon at Burnham Avenue.
The visitors won the toss and opted to bat but were soon in trouble when Lloyd Smith had Collins caught behind by Gareth Davies for 5. Lloyd next had Poyner trapped lbw for a duck, with the score on 31. Martin and Griffiths added another 23 before two wickets were lost in quick succession, courtesy of Julian Griffiths and Jamie Sylvester. But a spirited fightback gave Malpas some hope, with opener Martin and number 8 batsman Morgan putting on 60 before Martin fell to a Jamie Sylvester catch off the bowling of Lloyd Smith for an excellent 91. Morgan remained unbeaten at the end for a well deserved 50 as the innings closed on 195 for 7.
After tea Jamie Sylvester and Chris Thorne wasted little time in chasing the target, with both batsmen hitting the boundary on several occasions. The pair put on 156 for the first wicket - which was that of Chris Thorne, who was caught off the bowling of Poyner in the 22nd over. He hit 12 fours and a six in his innings of 74. Jamie, who hit 14 fours in his innings, was out two overs later, also for 74 and again off the bowling of Poyner, with the score on 169. Lloyd Smith joined in the fun with a quickfire 25 not out, which included three sixes - and not to be left out, with the scores level, Gareth Sullivan hit Poyner for a big six to see Centurions home with 20 overs still remaining. Centurions face Usk in the next round
Sully 201 for 2 Malpas 195 for 7 For Scorecard Click Here
ECB National Club Championship
1st Rd 8/5/11
Centurions Victorious in Cup
Centurions travelled over the bridge to play Bristol Cricket Club in the first round of the ECB National Club Championships. The home side won the toss and batted first. They probably regretted this decision almost immediately after losing two wickets with just 6 runs on the board. David Eskins (1 for 13) and Ryan Sylvester (3 for 22) did the early damage, with only Walker (40) able to occupy the crease for any significant length of time. The Centurion bowlers always had the upper hand, with wickets for Lloyd Smith, who had figures of 1 for 28, Jamie Sylvester (1 for 23) and Tom Evison (2 for 20). Tom also produced a brilliant run out, with a direct hit to remove Wilmott, before Liam Woolls came on for his first spell. This lasted a single delivery, as Pollard was bowled by the first ball Liam delivered to bring the innings to a close at 120 all out.
The Centurion reply looked to be going well, with Ryan Sylvester hitting a six and two 2s to reach 10 in the first over before being adjudged LBW to Wilmott. Chris Thorne and Lloyd Smith took the score along to 36 before Lloyd was also out LBW to Brown for 12. Then, when Thorne was caught by Walker off Brown for 8, Centurions were starting to look a little fragile on 39 for 3. But a 37 run partnership between Gareth Sullivan and Liam Woolls helped swing the game back in Sully's favour. When Liam went for 19, the experienced Owen Dawkins (24 not out) joined Gareth Sullivan (36 not out) and the pair took control – batting sensibly to take Centurions to the target in the 29 over.
Bristol 120 all out Sully 121/4 For Scorecard Click Here
2nd Round Sully v Downend – Downend Conceded
3rd Round 30/6/11
Centurions Fall in 20 Over Match
Centurions went out of the National Knockout after losing this 20 over match at Cardiff. The home side batted first and had reached 25 when they lost Thomas to a Roger Clitheroe catch off the bowling of Lloyd Smith for 18. Then Maynard and Kirtley put on 90 for the 2nd wicket, with Maynard hitting 53 in 35 balls - including 5 sixes. Kirtley went for 54, with the score on 151 and the innings closed on 156 for 5. The Centurions' bowling figures took a bit of a hammering, with Jamie Sylvester (2 for 37) and Tom Evision (1 for 19) having the best figures.
In reply, Centurions gave it good shot, but were always struggling to keep up with the required run rate. Ryan Sylvester hit a very good 44 to be top scorer and some nice touches from Gareth Davies and David Eskins gave Sully some hope. But, in spite of a spirited late assault, including a six from Eskins in the final over, Centurions finished 10 runs short at the end of the 20 overs.
Cardiff 156/5 Sully 146/6 (20 over match)
For Scorecard Click Here
ECB Club T/20
League Finals Day (SWALEC 20/20 – Swalec Stadium) 3/7/11
Defeat in Twenty/20 Final
In the first semi final Sully trounced Ynysygerwn by 80 runs. Lloyd Smith hit a fantastic 77 from 55 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes, as Centurions enjoyed themselves in the sun. Good support from Owen Dawkins (10) Gareth Sullivan (11) with 20 from Tom Evison and a fine 29 not out by Daniel Rowe took the score along to 161 for 4 after the 20 overs.
In response, the West Wales side was unable to get any momentum going. Only Howell (25) and Lloyd (14) had any answer to the accurate bowling. Wickets fell with regularity as the Centurion bowlers began turning the screw. Tom Evison came away with 4 for 22, with great work by Dan Rowe (2 for 10) a wicket each for Jamie Sylvester, Lloyd Bruce and Owen Dawkins, along with a run out, meant that Ynysygerwn were skittled out for just 81 in 17 overs.
Sully 161/4 Ynysygerwn 81 all out
For Scorecard Click Here
The final was a different affair altogether. Opponents Ammanford batted first and lost an early wicket when Daniel Rowe bowled Evans for 1, with the score on 6. Tom Evison dismissed Davies in the 6th over to leave Ammanford on 23 for 2. But a 3rd wicket stand of 39 from Salter and Harries (22) and a marvellous 4th wicket partnership of 66 between Salter (59) and Evans (30 n/o) helped the score along to 134 for 4 after 20 overs. Dan Rowe (2 for 30) along with Tom Evison (1 for 28) and Lloyd Bruce (1 for 28) were the wicket takers.
Some early wickets meant that Centurions were always playing catch up. By the seventh over Sully were in trouble at 35 for 4. In spite of a bit of a recovery that saw Dan Rowe top scoring with 29, and Jamie Sylvester (12) Gareth Davies (13) and Lloyd Smith (13) helping the cause, there was to be no repeat of last year’s victory, as Centurions ended 16 runs short.
Ammanford 134/4 Sully 118 all out For Scorecard Click Here
