THE 2025 cricket season began on Saturday, 3rd May, with Sully Centurions First XI entertaining Cardiff on a baking hot day at Burnham Avenue. The match was to ebb and flow throughout, with both teams having victory in their sights, right up to a dramatic final over.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the visitors soon got into their stride, with the opening pair of Kumar and Roderick making hay at the expense of Centurions’ captain Dave Goodway and John Gee’s efforts with the ball. They had taken the score to 41 when the breakthrough came, with Roderick falling to Gee, via a catch from Ricki Griffett.
Kumar was joined by Ahmed and they added another 35 before Jake Griffett took the first of his four victims, when he had Kumar caught by Nick Jones for 30. The score became 87 for 3 when Jake dismissed ex-Centurion Richard Jones for just two.
Ahmed and Sutton began rebuilding and shared a partnership of 25 before Griffett had Ahmed caught by Lloyd Bruce for a well-made half century. One run later, Sutton was bowled by Jake for 25, to leave the score on 134 for 5, with just nine overs remaining. However, Cardiff rallied when Noor and Qureshi started to find gaps in the field. Unfortunately, Qureshi had to retire hurt, after falling awkwardly and injuring his knee.
Noor was joined by Phillips and they had reached 175 when Phillips was dismissed by a fine Tom Davies catch off the bowling of Sam Johnson. Noor followed when Jake Griffett took a catch off Goodway to leave the score on 181 for 7 in the penultimate over. The score had reached 184 when Watson was run out, after a good piece of work in the field by Sam Johnson. The final pair of Younas and Howells took the visitors to 190 for 8.
Ahmed, with 51, was Cardiff’s standout batsman, while the best Sully bowling figures were Jake Griffett’s 4-22.
After the interval, Rhett Jones and Zia Gehlan made a decent start, but after reaching 41 in the 10th over, Jones fell to Phillips for 25. Tom Davies had only made one run when he was out, caught off the bowling of Younas. Zia fell soon after, when he became Phillips’ second victim. With the score on 49 for 3, Lloyd Bruce and David Goodway came together, but, after a promising start, Lloyd was out lbw to Phillips for 7, with the score on 75-4 in the 18th over.
This brought Jake Griffett and Goodway together. They made good progress, with Jake being the aggressor, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 41 before holing out to Noor off the bowling of Kumar, after a half century partnership. Ricki Griffett joined Goodway, but fell for 11, after another lbw decision. Sam Johnson had made three when he was bowled by Noor with the score on 147-7. When Goodway fell to Phillips for 27 on the same score, Centurions’ chances were looking slim.
However, John Gee and Nick Jones played sensibly, chipping away at the deficit, to enter the final over needing five runs for victory. With two runs off the first two deliveries from Watson followed by a dot ball and another run, things were getting tense. Another dot ball meant that two runs were required off the last delivery. Gee hit the ball and was immediately scampering down the pitch, with Jones not needing any encouragement to do likewise. The Cardiff fielders prevented another run and the game was over. Both sides had reached 190-8, so the game ended in a tie. A thrilling end to a match that both teams could be proud of.
Sully Centurions 190-8, Cardiff 190-8
Next week sees the First XI travelling to Monkswood and the seconds kicking off their campaign at home to Mountain Ash.
Sully Centurions CC would like to thank Gary Watson Motors for sponsoring the match balls.
MF
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