Usk lose out in farcical Cup Match

On Saturday Usk first team beat Sully away at Burnham Avenue, whilst the seconds lost at the Athletic Club Ground to the same opponents. On Sunday Usk were knocked out of the Welsh Cup away to Cardiff, in Whitchurch, in a match that lasted only 21.4 overs.

On an overcast Saturday afternoon in South Wales, Usk first team captain, Tom Robinson, lost the toss and found his team fielding first. Sully got off to a watchful start , posting 30 for the first wicket in the opening 9 overs before skipper Robinson dismissed Ryan Sylvester. From this point on wickets tumbled regularly as Stefan Kelly and Ollie James devastated the middle order. At one stage Sully were realing at 95-8 in the 28th over. However, a late rally ensured that they would reach 144 all out. Kelly finished with figures of 8-0-32-4, and James 10-3-31-4.

Despite the early loss of Sion Francis with the score on 26. Matt Birrell (83*) and Ollie James (43) then put on 104 to take the visitors to the brink of victory. Birrell fittingly struck the winning boundary to bring up a comfortable 8-wicket win. Birrell’s knock included 13 fours and 2 sixes.

Meanwhile back at the Athletic Club Ground it was a different story as the visitors from Sully took the spoils. Usk skipper, Mike Kear won the toss and elected to field. The decision was sadly not vindicated as Matt Thomas (93) and D Goodway (44) proceeded to put on 140 for the first wicket in the first 27 overs before as smart pick-up and throw by Richie Rees at mid-wicket accounted for Goodway. Sully’s batsmen were able to keep the momentum going and despite Rees himself (9-2-29-3) and Sanjay Thapan (9-1-35-2) weighing in, the visitors were able to finish on 262-6 after their allocation of 50 overs.

Usk’s reply got off to a dreadful start, losing a wicket in only the second over. Henry Lewis (39) and Sanjay Thapan (48) then shared Usk’s best stand of the game as they put on 64 for the second wicket. However, once both were dismissed there was little to write home about except for the on form Tony Kear who made 58. Usk were eventually dismissed for 193 in the 44th over; a 69-run defeat. For Sully, Terry Williams had the pick of the bowling figures with 10-1-44-3. 

Next Saturday sees the first team return to action in the league away to Penarth, whilst the seconds entertain Bridgend. Both games begin at 1pm. Then on Sunday, the Athletic Club Ground hosts the first round of the national Twenty20 competition, with a triangular knockout taking place between Usk, Croesyceiliog and Cardiff. Play begins at 1pm.