Match Reports - 3rd XI (2008)

14/6/08 Big Defeat At Rhoose
The 3rd XI lost heavily at Rhoose, after being completely outplayed by a strong Blaina side .
Centurions won the toss, elected to bat and lost two early batsmen in Miller and Sullivan.
The only other worthwhile stand of the innings then developed between Don Sylvester and Christian Bruce, who added 39 runs for the third wicket.
When Bruce was out for 18 with the score on 56, wickets fell at regular intervals with only Don Sylvester 46 showing any real resistance, though Ben Callow and John Wooden both with 9, took the score over 100 to give Centurions another batting point.
Centurions target of 103 was never going to stretch the visitors and they got home for the loss of just 1 wicket.
Sully 103 all out Blaina 104/1

7/6/08 Herbie and Guru Star in Big Win at Wanderers
The 3rd XI enjoyed a day off from league cricket due to St Peters withdrawal and they were at Hayes Point for a relaxing friendly with our old pals Barry Wanderers 2nd XI.
Wanderers batted first and reached 202-6. Ethan Fiddler with 3 wickets and John Edwards (2) were Centurions' most successful bowlers but young Ben Callow bowled an excellent spell of leg spin with 10 overs for 29 runs.
Farnham (42 not out) put bat to ball at the end of Wanderers' innings and Griffiths hit a fine 45 to become the main contributors for the home side.
Sully made an electric start with Guru Patel and Herbie Miller putting on 115 for the first wicket before Patel was caught for a fine 56. Miller was joined by Dave Sylvester and an unbeaten stand off 88 saw Centurions comfortably home, Miller with a superb 87 not out, and Sylvester 34 not out. An excellent afternoon played in good spirit.
Barry Wanderers 202/6 Sully 204/1.

24/5/08 First Win at Croesy
The 3rd XI finally broke their duck and came back from Croesyceiliog victorious.
Centurions batted first in a howling gale with Owain Sullivan enjoying his opening role and playing some flamboyant shots to get the scoreboard moving as Don Sylvester at the other end seemed to have rigor mortis and dug in to produce just 13 runs from 30 overs at the crease.
Sullivan went for 21 chancing his arm once too often, and Miller for 14, run out by a bad call from skipper Dave Sylvester. Patel, in his first knock of the season, made an excellent 16 but Centurions collapsed to 101-8.
The youth policy then paid off as Greg Tressider found the river with two mammoth sixes in a superb 26 not out, and Adam Gilliatt played a cameo of an innings with 13 not out. These two 15-year-olds took Centurions to a useful score of 144-8 at the end of their 45 overs.
Not a massive score but a difficult one for the home side to reach in the conditions and so it proved thanks to some excellent catching by the Sully fielders.
The home side had reached 14 when Adam Gilliatt caught Birchlay off the impressive Wooden for 0, then at 28 the same bowler had Dewar caught by Ethan Fiddler for 16.
Centurions were looking impressive in the field and at 45 Greg Tressider, having an excellent afternoon, bowled Mosley for 9. Smart work by Adam Gilliatt ran out Haley for 0, Tressider caught and bowled Hagger for 4 and the home side were reduced to 55-5.
A 22 run partnership developed but then a collapse saw 4 wickets go for the addition of 8 runs - 3 to Don Sylvester and 1 to Ethan Fiddler. Thirteen runs later Ethan sealed an excellent victory when he had the hard hitting D Dewar at long off by skipper P Head.
Girlings/Croes 98 all out. Centurions 144-8.

17/6/08 Decent Score, But Another Loss
The 3rds lost at Sully to Crumlin in spite of picking up maximum batting points in a total of 208 for 7. Batting honours were shared around but Steve Hood's 40 was the biggest contribution.
Donny picked up 4 for 48 and would have had more if it hadn't been for several dropped catches. The visitors were heartened by this and eventually got on top and won the game when they reached 209 for 8.
So, another defeat, but this was a huge improvement.
Sully 208/7 Crumlin 209/8

3/10/08 Defeat in Spite of Spirited Fightback
The 3rd XI opened the new campaign with a defeat at Lisvane.
Centurions, boasting a brace of Sylvesters, batted first and managed to reach 143 for 9. Donny batted on (and on) for some 40 overs for his 41, but no-one else had his stickability!
Piehead managed to be out twice - which is something of a record, even for him. The first time was farcical, as he bent down to pick up the ball to throw it back to the fielder, when the bowler ran in and beat him to it, throwing the stumps down for a run out. This was considered not to be cricket and he was called back. Then Donny stood his ground and ran his favourite brother out like the proverbial dog!!
The home side found the going just as heavy and lost wickets and took up most of the 45 overs in the process. But the win was achieved when they reached 145 for 6.
Lisvane III 145/6 Sully 143/9