Sport: Centurions on top form with two conclusive wins

Glamorgan Star news 14/08/2023

3 minutes read

SULLY Centurions enjoyed a successful Saturday, with both teams achieving impressive wins.

The First XI travelled to Whitchurch Heath for a match that was delayed by the rain and subsequently reduced to 35 overs. After winning the toss, the home captain decided to put Centurions in to bat. Tom Davies and Gethin Hicks took the score along to 47 before Davies was first to go – bowled for 27 by Rogers.

Ricki Griffett added 14 before falling to Hunter with the score on 67. Hicks was then joined by Jake Griffett, who took a liking to the bowling. When Hicks fell for 26, with the score on 93-3, skipper David Goodway entered the fray, joining Jake in a century partnership, which transformed the innings and took the score to 200-4.

Goodway fell for 19 and Jake was joined by Lloyd Bruce. The pair shared a stand of 45 before Lloyd went for 14. Nick Jones was run out soon after and the innings closed on 245 for 6. Jake Griffett was 117 not out – an innings that contained six sixes. For the home side, Hunter (2 for 43) was the pick of the bowlers.

After tea, the Whitchurch openers, Shafique and Chouhdary had reached 38 when Shafique was run out for 16. Chouhdary followed 18 runs later, trapped lbw by Jake Griffett. Jake also took the wicket of Rogers (seven) with the score on 63 – again an lbw. Wickets were falling regularly and when the final over was complete, Whitchurch were on 157 for 7 – well short of the target. Wickets were shared, with two each for Jake Griffett, Nick Jones and Ricki Griffett. Jake’s 2-18, along with his century with the bat, made him the obvious choice for man of the match.

Whitchurch Heath II 157-7, Sully Centurions 245-6

– ⁘ –

The Second XI faced Miskin III at Burnham Avenue.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Rukshan Silva and Zia Gehlan had reached 41 when Rukshan was bowled by Goodwin for 20. Goodwin struck again soon after, bowling Sully captain Dan Merchant for just one run. The score had reached 49 when Zia also fell – caught off the bowling of Khan for 19.

However, this brought Alex Kelsey and Bharat Bhanderi together. The pair shared an incredible fourth wicket stand of 178 before Kelsey was lbw to Elks for 69 (a knock that included six fours and a six.) Then Bharat and Imran Ahmed shared another 41 runs before Bharat was run out for a marvellous 144. He hit 12 fours and five sixes in his match-changing innings. Ahmed’s 23 and Jones’ eight helped push the score along to 299 for 6 at the end of the 40 overs.

In reply, Miskin had a disastrous start, with two wickets going down by the time nine runs were on the board. Doherty and Khan dug in to take the score along to 31, but both fell on the same score to leave Miskin reeling on 31 for 4. It didn’t stop there and soon 31 for 4 became 43 for 7. Sweeney, who was eventually run out for 19, was the visitors’ top scorer. The final two wickets went to Jason Hicks (who ended with figures of 2 for 1) and the innings came to an end on 72 all out. Imran Ahmed’s 4-21, including three maidens, ensured that maximum points would be going to Sully. Nathan Cuddihy (2 for 19) and Andrew Jones (1 for 26) were the other wicket takers for Centurions.

This leaves Centurions joint top, with only two matches to play, including a last game of the season showdown with joint leaders Abercarn.

Sully Centurions II 299-6, Miskin Manor III 72 all out

Sully Centurions would like to thank our match ball sponsors Inn House Autos for their support.

This Saturday, the First XI travel to Usk and the Second XI take on Christchurch at Burnham Avenue.

Other items to read:

⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here