Sport

Village Cup game goes down to the wire as Tondu pip Sully

Glamorgan Star news 25/04/2022

2 minutes read

Village Cup game goes down to the wire as Tondu pip Sully

SPORT | Cricket

Sully Centurions’ final pre-season friendly, against touring side, Verwood, ended in a 36-run defeat at Burnham Avenue on Saturday.

After winning the toss on a blustery afternoon, Verwood decided to bat. Openers Coy and Webber took the score along to 23 before Webber fell for just one, caught and bowled by Vasant. Then Coy retired on reaching his 50.

The visitors steadily built up a competitive score, but the home side’s bowlers kept plugging away and wickets continued to fall. A fine 61 from Catanach was the highlight of the Verwood innings, as they ended on 186 for 7 after the 40 overs.

Vasant, with 2-30 and Lloyd Bruce (2-32) were the standout bowlers for Centurions.

In reply, a solid 35 from Dan Merchant and a fine half century for Lloyd Bruce gave Centurions some real hope, but the remaining batsmen were pegged back by the Verwood attack, with only Jake Griffett (10) and Patrick Lane (13) reaching double figures and the innings closed on 150 for 8. For Verwood, Arnold (4-20) was the star bowler.

Sully Centurions 150-8 Verwood 186-7

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The following day, Centurions travelled to Tondu to play in the first round of the Village Cup and lost an exciting match which went down to the wire.

Batting first on a glorious afternoon, Sully got off to a disastrous start when Gethin Hicks was run out for 7 with the score on 27, in the sixth over. However, this brought Tom Davies and David Goodway together and they shared a second-wicket partnership of 45 before Goodway was caught off Jenkins for 32.

Enter Rhett Jones, who played a swashbuckling innings, putting on another 41 with Davies until Tom was bowled by Jenkins for 37. A cameo from Lloyd Bruce ended when he was caught off Thomas for 12 with the score on 147. A brief five from Ricki Griffett and eight from Iwan Thomas helped the score along in the final overs. Rhett Jones was bowled by Leppard for 67, last ball of the innings, which ended up on 193 for 7.

After tea, Tondu’s opening pair of Green and Thornton took the score to 56 when Green was trapped lbw by Jake Griffett for 33. Then a collapse, as Ricki Griffett began to hit his stride. Thornton became the first of his four victims, caught for 18. Richards and Leppard followed quickly after and at 79 for 4, Centurions certainly had the upper hand.

Thomas and Jenkins led the fight back. Thomas then fell to Lloyd Bruce for 25 and Ricki Griffett took the wicket of Gregory for 21 to leave the game intriguingly poised, with the home side requiring 26 with four overs remaining. Jenkins kept his nerve to finish on an unbeaten 59, supported by Williams (13 not out) as Tondu ended on 196 for 6.

Tondu 196-6 Sully Centurions 193-7

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This Saturday sees the start of the 2022 league season with the 1^st XI hosting Pontypridd at Burnham Avenue and the seconds travelling to Abercarn. All players are reminded to let the captains know your availability.