South East Wales Cricket League Division Three (Second XI) - Sully Centurions (177-9) lost to Monmouth (203-8) by 26 runs

ON a day as perfect as the one which greeted the travelling Monmouth team for this match down on the coastline pitch of Sully Centurions, it would be churlish to pick out any one player for particular praise, for this victory was built very much on the team performance and a genuine sense of each player playing for the other 10 standing beside them.

What was also encouraging was how the three youngest players in the team, Alfie Robinson, Ben Pilot and Tom McNulty, all of whom are under 16 years of age, played crucial and match winning roles in both innings, and demonstrated that the health of Monmouth Cricket Club is strong for many years to come.

With events over in Russia at 3pm demanding an early start to proceedings, it was with a sense of relief that stand-in captain Chris Chalk won the toss and elected to bat first. With such a large number of players missing from the team, it was very much a makeshift line up to the batting order, with players being asked to move into unfamiliar positions – however, with true professionalism, each took to their task with gusto and ensured each ball of the 40 overs faced was played out.

This was no small feat, when it is understood that Sully have been undefeated in eight games, and have a line up boasting some very strong batsman and bowlers.

The pugnacious opening bowling partnership of Harish Hirani (1-36) and Nathan Cuddihy (2-27) were accurate and at times quick; but, after a strong and dashing innings from Craig Cook (7) was disappointingly snubbed out, Chalk (42) and Ben Pilot took things along at a steady pace until drinks at 18 overs with 76-1 on the board.

Chalk fell on his first delivery after the break, bringing the swashbuckling Grant Pendleton to the crease. Always a crowd favourite, a flurry of strongly hit boundaries was curtailed when he was trapped on his legs in front of the wicket by off-spinner Nick Jones (2-25) for 17, this was unfortunately the same fate that befell the lugubrious John Jones (7). 

Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Solutions, then started to wobble a little when Ben Pilot, who had batted with great responsibility and composure, fell to a sharp catch at square leg, taken by the home captain, David Sylvester, for 44.

With the return of the opening bowlers to the fray, three quick wickets fell, Steven Finn, Greg Thomas and Alfie Robinson, being undone by some accurate and quick deliveries. This left the visitors teetering at 136-8 in the 32nd over. What this also did though was bring together the vastly experienced Aled Jones and 13-year-old Tom McNulty, and what a partnership they made. Batting with freedom, but also no small intelligence, Jones hit a magnificent unbeaten 60, and was backed up with quick running and resolute defence from young McNulty, undefeated on 8. This ensured Monmouth posted a very respectable 203 at the end of their innings, with the only regret being that the travelling fans did not get a chance to see the batting of Rob Pilot, drafted into the squad for his first match of the season.

After an extended tea-break, in which all sides enjoyed seeing events over in Russia unfold, it was evident that on an outfield playing like glass, such was the run on the ball after it was hit, the bowling would need to be tight, and the fielding accurate – no one player let their team or captain down, and the sight of Rob Pilot throwing himself full length to prevent a ball crossing the boundary set the tone and standards for the whole team.

With an opening bowling partnership of Robinson (2-22) and Ben Pilot (1-24), the opposition batmen were never allowed to settle, with both of these U15 players getting genuine pace from the wicket, and Pilot in particular, making the batsman jump around with a combination of bouncers and full pitched Yorkers. Robinson was the first to get the breakthrough, getting opener Lane caught at mid-on by Chalk for 11, and then followed this up with a beauty to take the other experienced opener Russ Thomas (9), with a ball that pitched on middle, left the batsman a fraction, clipped the outside edge and was taken with great composure, and no little relief, by Pendleton, himself dragooned into keeping for the day in the absence of any recognised gloveman in the team.

The remaining bowlers, seeing what good work had been done, were also up to the task, with Aled Jones (0-38) controlling an end for his eight overs and Jonathan Jones (2-47) getting some genuine turn off the pitch, as well as pulling off a very sharp caught-and-bowled chance, and grateful to ‘keeper Pendleton for his other wicket, a juggling catch after some quick footwork behind the stumps.

It was, however, the younger players who turned the match at crucial times – the combination of Tom McNulty (1-21), who bowled with great maturity, drawing a false shot from the number four batsman Hicks, that in turn brought from Alfie Robinson one of the best catches of the season, indeed many seasons, to see Sully heads drop.

The second key moment saw Ben Pilot throw down the wicket of the one batsman, Nicholas Jones (60), who was starting to look like he could take the game away from Monmouth. With speed and accuracy from mid-wicket, while the batsman attempted a quick single, Pilot hit the wickets and was quickly enveloped by his team mates.

With the loss of Jones, Sully realised they were a beaten side, and with Chalk (1-25) and Jonathan Jones finishing off the remaining overs, the home side were always behind the run-rate and came up 26 runs short.

In the field, special mention needs to be made to Steve Finn, Greg Thomas, Craig Cook and Rob Pilot, who, while none of them took a catch or bowled, to a man, made sure their ground fielding was of the highest order, and also ensured that the bowlers were encouraged and supported throughout, and meaning without their herculean efforts, the game would not have been won.

This was a hard-fought, and well won victory, and a credit to those players involved – it should also be mentioned that the game was played in a very good atmosphere, with both sides contributing to an excellent game of cricket and mutual respect from all.