Sport – Both Sully sides fail to convert winning positions

Star it Here 03/06/2024

3 minutes read

SULLY Centurions had a bad day on Saturday, with both teams losing games they looked like winning.

The First XI played Whitchurch Heath at Burnham Avenue and, after skipper Dave Goodway won the toss, they invited the opposition to bat first. Opening batsmen, Grimmond and Shafique soon got into their stride and had reached 57 without loss in some comfort. However, the introduction of spin changed things pretty quickly, with both openers being bowled by Jake Griffett.

Griffett also added the scalp of Hunter, who was out lbw without troubling the scorers. Nick Jones also chipped in with a wicket, caught by Kieron Ferriday to leave the score on 58 for 4. But this rush of wickets brought together David Reynolds and Jonathan Varghese who began rebuilding. They shared a partnership of 66 before Varghese fell for 35, run out going for a second run.

Ricki Griffett then had Reynolds caught behind for 27, which triggered a second batting collapse. Ricki and Lloyd Bruce mopped up the innings, with the last four wickets falling for just 10 runs. The final score of 136 all out looked to be far too low to defend.

For Sully, both Griffett brothers nabbed three wickets, with one for Jones and two for Lloyd Bruce, plus the run out, making up the 10 dismissals.

After tea, Sully opened with a different pair than normal, with big hitters Jake Griffett and Tom Davies being asked to get the innings underway. Unfortunately for Centurions, this strategy did not work, as both fell cheaply, leaving the score on 18 for 2. Ricki Griffett and Gethin Hicks, however, began the fightback, sharing a third wicket stand of 67, before Ricki was caught off the bowling of Hunter for 33.

Nine runs later, Hunter struck again to dismiss Hicks for 25, leaving the score on 102 for 5. Victory still looked likely, with just 35 runs required and plenty of overs left, with the reliable Goodway now at the crease. However, he began to lose partners at an alarming rate. When Goodway was run out for 25 in the 32nd over, the innings closed on 129 all out, giving the visitors victory by seven runs.

Sully Centurions 129 all out, Whitchurch Heath 136 all out

The Second XI travelled to Malpas and were happy to bat first after winning the toss. Alex Kelsey and Rukshan Silva looked well set but Kelsey was caught for 19. Thirteen runs later Rukshan was also caught, this time for 25. Bharat and Chaudhry got the momentum going again, putting on 48 for the third wicket. But, although some decent partnerships had started to develop, none were able to push on for a really big score.

Wickets were beginning to fall regularly and, although the total of 206 all out was a reasonable one, it could have been much more, as there were seven overs remaining when the last wicket fell. Chaudhry (38) and Imran (28) top scored for Sully, with Sneigot (3-38) and Hassan (3-7) taking the bowling honours for Malpas.

In reply, Bharat Bhanderi removed both of the openers early to leave the home side on 19 for 2. But Ash Paine and James Van Rensburg put together an impressive third wicket partnership, taking the score to 97 before Paine fell to Kapil Rokad for 43. Van Rensberg went on to make 79 before he also was dismissed by Kapil, with the score on 122. This left Murphy (9) and Griffiths (27) to take Malpas to victory in the 33rd over.

For Centurions, Bharat (2-29) and Kapil (2-53) were the wicket takers.

Malpas II 209-4, Sully Centurions II 206 all out

This weekend (Saturday 8th June), the First XI travel to Usk, while the Seconds entertain Mountain Ash at Burnham Avenue.

Sully Centurions would like to thank our match ball sponsors BP Xmas Trees for their support.