(For Cup Reports see 1st XI page)
Defeat At Sully
A sunny Sunday saw the visit of Miskin Manor to Burnham Avenue for a friendly. Batting first Centurions reached 163 all out, with Mathew Thomas top scoring with 65 not out, while a fine 36 by Ben Callow showed the bonus of playing friendlies, and he was unlucky to be run out when he looked on for a maiden 50.
Miskin reached the target for the loss of 6 wickets with Lloyd Bruce claiming 3 wickets for 34.
Centurions 165 Miskin Manor 166 for 6
Huge Win for Centurions
Cardiff Cavaliers visited Sully on Sunday and after 40 overs they probably wished they hadn't, as Centurions youngsters took full advantage of some loose bowling and a fast outfield.
Shae Ellis reached his second century in successive weeks but the highlight of the afternoon belonged to Lloyd Bruce as he recorded his first ever century in a 200 run partnership.
Runs continued to flow after both openers retired, with Centurions reaching a massive 313-2 from their 40 overs.
Cavaliers were never able to get anywhere near the required run rate as Centurions skipper Dave Sylvester used 6 bowlers, with 2 wickets for Luke Burnett, 2 for Ben Callow, 5 for Dave Goodway and 1 for Dave Sylvester as the visitors could muster only 130 all out.
Marchant with 31 and a late flurry by Thomas 27 and Pawley 23 not out, gave some respectability to the visitors' score.
Centurions 313/2 Cardiff Cavaliers 130 all out
Defeat at Penarth
Centurions' 3rd and 4th XIs, without a league game,were grateful to Penarth - who were in the same situation - for arranging a friendly.
Centurions, with very much a scratch side, fielded first and the home side reached 186 for 7, Crimp top scoring with a fine 64. There were 2 wickets for Daniel Chaulk, returning from his exam break, 2 for Nick Jones and 2 for Sam Banja.
Centurions were not at the races, unfortunately, and wicket after wicket went down. At 59-9 the redoubtable Don and Dave Sylvester brought some respectability to the score with a 40 run partnership for the last wicket, Don being the aggressor (!!) with 23 not out. A fine partnership that both Boycott and Tavare would have been proud of!
Penarth 186/7 Centurions 97 all out
Lisvane Legends!
Centurions travelled to St Mellons for this friendly with Lisvane. The home side batted first and 60 by opener Bowen and a class innings from Rhys Jones of 76 not out gave the home side a competitive score of 229 at the end of their 40 overs. Young Luke Burnett, with 3 for 20 was the most successful bowler.
After tea Centurions set about the target aggressively but lost 2 wickets by the time the score had reached 37, but then veteran Dave Goodway joined by the young Shae Ellis soon put Centurions on the way to a comfortable 6 wicket victory.
Ellis, with a flamboyant 103 and Goodway with his usual, steady 75 took Sully to 201 before Ellis retired, and the team coasted home with 5 overs to spare.
Lisvane 229/7 Centurions 232/3
Centurions Win at Miskin
Centurions travelled the short distance to Miskin for a Sunday friendly and won comfortably by 92 runs in a game played in excellent spirit. Skipper Dave Sylvester won the toss and elected to bat. Shae Ellis and Owain Lovering gave Centurions an excellent start adding 87 for the first wicket before Ellis was bowled for 37.
Lovering kept the board ticking over and with good support from Ben Spear they took the score to 159 before the eager Spear was run out for 22. Christian Bruce was stumped for 12 attempting to push the run rate up and Lovering went the same way for an excellent 81. A late flourish by David Goodway enabled Centurions to post a total of 209 on a slow outfield - a useful score.
Miskin's reply never reached the required run rate and wickets fell at regular intervals as the Centurions skipper used 9 bowlers. Don Sylvester, with 3 for 15, and Ben Callow (2 for 28) were the most successful and only Harries with 40 troubled the Sully total.
There were positives from this game for Centurions with 13-year-old Rhys Bennett making his senior debut, bowling 5 overs for 19 runs. Also, Ben Callow, making his second appearance of the season after his mammoth exams, will soon be back in the groove.
Centurions 209/4 Miskin 117 all out
Sunday Victory!
Centurions, under the captaincy of Herbie Miller, won the toss and elected to bat but lost the early wickets of Rhett Jones for 0, Peter Rose (16) and Ben Spear (16.)
Shae Ellis followed without troubling the scorers and only a superb century by David Goodway bailed Centurions out, reaching 106 before he was caught.
Centurions posted a moderate target of 174 but it proved to be enough on a slow wicket.
Rhett Jones, with 4 for 6 and David Goodway (4-12) ensured that Ystradfellte could not keep up with the required run rate. The visitors were all out for 144 giving Centurions victory by 30 runs in an enjoyable friendly, and a good debut as captain for Herbie Miller.
Centurions 174 all out Ystradfellte 144 all out.
The 1st XI continued the warm up for the new season as they entertained Mumbles at Sully - in their ranks was former Glamorgan player Darren Thomas.
The visitors batted first on a rock hard Sully track and lost an early wicket when Wharf trapped Ashworth lbw for 4 with the score on 12.
Mumbles struggled for runs against a keen Sully attack as newcomers Denning and Wharf bowled a tight line, and the score reached 58 when Denning trapped Thorpe lbw for 20.
Just 4 runs later Ryan Sylvester had Centurion old boy Morgan Hodges caught for 2 and only Tux with a slow but solid 84 was able to cope with a keen Centurions attack. At the end of their 45 overs Mumbles had reached 219-5, never going to be enough on a fast outfield and hard wicket.
Centurions made a poor start in reply, losing Jamie Sylvester for 5 and Mike O'Shea for 6, but Lloyd Smith and Ryan Sylvester soon had the scoreboard moving, taking the score to 105 before Ryan was caught off Thomas for an excellent 68.
Smith, aided by Sullivan and Wharf, made a fine 70 not out as Centurions reached the target with 5 overs to spare.
Centurions 220/5 Mumbles 219/5
Centurions Look Impresive in Fine Win
Penarth were the visitors to Sully and Centurions batsmen put the visitors' attack to the sword as they reached an impressive 228 for 4 from their 40 overs, with Gareth Sullivan continuing his fine early season form with 109 not out when he retired.
A quick fire 50 from Ryan Sylvester and an excellent 40 from Tom Evison, playing his first innings of the season, set Penarth a daunting task.
Penarth reached 161 for 9 at the end of their overs with Richard Skone showing his class with 42 not out.
Penarth 161/9 Centurions 228/4
SECONDS
The 2nd XI travelled to near neighbours Barry Wanderers and in a good spirited game came away with a 28 run victory.
Centurions batted first and made a cracking start with Richard Jones and Mathew Thomas hitting the ball to the boundary at regular intervals. Jones raced to 44 before he was caught off the impressive Parton. Wickets fell regularly after the opening partnership, with Parton claiming 5, Thomas (47) being one of his victims.
Only Rose with an excellent 56 not out, looked solid after the two openers had gone, and what promised to be a big score turned into an average total of 191 all out as the home side fought back.
The Wanderers reply started slowly and at 27 two wickets fell - one to the impressive Lloyd Bruce and one to Liam Bennett. Ridgewell (46) held up Sully with Bruce turning in a good bowling performance taking 3 for 22 in 10 overs.
Barry Wanderers 163 all out Centurions 191 all out
Centurions Enjoy West Country Visit
The game at Frocester on Saturday saw skipper Mike O'Shea make an early season statement with a fine 133 not out. Gareth Sullivan, with 27 not out, gave him good support in a total of 239 for 3 at the end of their 45 overs.
Frocester could only manage 112 all out as Jamie Sylvester bowled an excellent spell of 7 overs, with figures of 4 for 16, supported by new recruit from Tondu, Jonathan Bussey (2 for 21) to give Centurions an excellent start to the season.
Frocester 112 all out Centurions 239/3
After an overnight stay it was on to Thornbury, where batting first, Centurions found the excellent wicket to their liking, losing only one wicket as they piled on 273 runs. There was a brilliant 110 from Lloyd Smith, 58 from Alex Wharf and 50 from Jamie Sylvester, all three retiring to give as many batsmen as possible early season practice.
Thornbury managed 228 in reply with Centurion Gareth Sullivan guesting for the home side and reaching 99 not out
Thornbury 228 all out Centurions 273/1
Owain's Ton Sets The Scene For Big Win
The 2nd XI entertained Syresham from Northampton at Sully, and batting first, found the hard wicket and fast outfield to their liking - they piled on the runs to reach a massive 341 for 3, with half centuries for Mathew Thomas, Rhett Jones, and Owain Sullivan.
But the highlight was a magnificent first century for Owain Lovering before he retired. Well done to him - there are surely more to come.
The visitors struggled for runs and could only muster 91 all out with Brock top scoring with 37. Liam Bennett took 2 wickets and Peter Rose had a late burst for 3 wickets, but the pick of the bowlers was the muscular Lloyd Bruce, with 5 for 23.
Centurions 341/3 Syreshan 91 all out
Opening Defeat for Sully
Centurions started the 2010 season with a friendly against Panteg on Sunday 11th April. The game was very much an opener with Panteg recording a 39 run victory thanks to First team Captain Ian Bird with a fine 113, and some indisciplined early season bowling which produced 48 extras as the visitors reached 238 from their 40 overs.
Centurions were 199-8 at the end of their 40 overs with Rhett Jones (80) and Owain Sullivan (33) the main contributors in a useful warm-up game.
Sully 199/8 Panteg 238/6
Results 2010
April
11th Sully 119/8 Panteg 238/6
17th Frocester 112 ao Sully 1st XI 239/3
17th Sully 2nd XI 341/3 Syresham 91 ao
18th Thornbury 228 ao Sully 1st XI 273/1
24th Sully 220/5 Mumbles 219/5
24th Barry Wanderers 163ao Sully 191ao
25th Sully 228/4 Penarth 161/9
May
1st Barry West End (a)
30th Sully 174 ao Ystradfellte 144 ao
June
20th Miskin 117 all out Sully 209/4
July
10th Penarth 186/7 Sully 97 all out
11th Lisvane 229/7 Sully 232/3
18th Sully 313/2 Cardiff Cavaliers 130 ao
August
1st Bagborough 215 ao Sully 197 ao
15th Sully 165 ao Miskin Manior 166/6
29th - 1st Sept Tour to Somerset
