SULLY Centurions’ First and Second XIs bounced back from last week’s defeats to register victories, with both sides reaching maximum points in the process.
The Firsts travelled to Cardiff CC’s Diamond Ground and found themselves in the field, after the home side chose to bat first. Openers Fazil and Rickets looked comfortable as they steadily built up a solid foundation, before Rickets fell for 29, with John Gee taking a catch off the bowling of Jake Griffett.
Then Ahmed became Jake’s second victim, being trapped lbw for 8. Spin seemed to be the trick, with Lloyd Bruce finally bowling Fazil for a half century. Although the middle order rallied, Bruce went on to take four wickets for 32, helping to stall Cardiff’s progress. Two run outs and two more wickets, both from Kieron Ferriday, helped keep the total down to 213 all out.
In reply, Centurions got off to the worst possible start, with skipper David Goodway bowled for a duck, first ball. However, Gethin Hicks and Kieron Ferriday (promoted up the order) began rebuilding and shared a half century stand, before Hicks was lbw to Roderick for 31. Ferriday was then joined by Jake Griffett, who plundered 38, including two big sixes, in another productive partnership, to put Sully in the driver’s seat.
Ferriday eventually went for a well-made 59. Bruce (15) Ben Spear (14) and Lewis Pyke helped the score along, and, with two overs to go, Centurions still needed 17 for victory. After six had been scored, Pyke was bowled off the final ball of the over, for 12. Then, with 11 required off the final over, Nicky Jones stepped up. A four and a six, followed by a match winning single, saw Centurions home with two balls to spare. A dramatic and well-earned victory for Sully, who move up the table, leapfrogging nearest rivals, Whitchurch, in the process.
Cardiff III 213 all out, Sully Centurions 214-8
The Second XI hosted Undy & Magor at Burnham Avenue and rattled up a big score, which proved to be more than enough to secure victory. Jason Hicks and Rukshan Silva got Centurions off to a good start, sharing a half century partnership, before Jason fell to Hepple for 17. Shortly after this, Rukshan was caught for 28, which brought together Alex Kelsey and Prabhnoor Singh. Another half century partnership followed, with Singh eventually falling for 11, with 122 runs on the board.
Kelsey and Bharat Bhanderi then got into the visiting attack, with boundaries beginning to flow. Eventually, with the score on 185, Alex was dismissed for a well-made 73, being caught and bowled by James Brown. However, Bharat continued playing his shots and eventually ended up on 92 not out as the innings closed on 291 for 8. Although the Undy & Magor bowlers all took a bit of a hammering, the pick of the attack was Hepple, with 3 for 38.
After tea, Undy had reached 14 when McKenzie was caught off the bowling of Jagdish Gorsia for seven. A partnership of 22 between James and Richards ended when Bharat followed his heroics with the bat to dismiss James for 14. Then, after a duck for Farley gave Bharat his second wicket, the visitors’ batting began to unravel.
A procession of single figure scores followed, with only Richards managing to withstand the Sully bowling. Richards eventually went for 21, bowled by Kapil Rokad, with the score on 75 for 6. However, Stephen Hepple not only stuck around, but also managed to find some gaps in the field to build up a decent individual score. Unfortunately for the visitors, Hepple’s partners were unable to stay long enough to assist his valiant efforts with the bat.
Hepple was eventually the last man standing on an unbeaten 84, when the final wicket went down in the 29th over, with Undy & Magor still 120 runs short.
Kapil (3-27) and Bharat (3-47) were Centurions’ most successful bowlers, with Hicks (2-39) and one each for Imran and Jag completing the wicket-takers. This big victory takes Sully up to fifth place at the halfway point in the season.
Sully Centurions II 291-8, Undy & Magor 171 all out
This weekend the First XI take the short trip to Barry Island to face Barry Athletic II and the Second XI take on Monmouth at Burnham Avenue.
MF
- Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
- Pencoed RFC survive fightback for home win
- Barry RFC are on song against Pentyrch
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life
