By Les Hutchings
Last weekend Kilsyth’s Firsts, Seconds, Thirds and Fourths played the first day of a two-day round whilst the Fifths and Women’s First XI won their one-day matches. The main highlights were Kilsyth Women’s Captain Ashleigh Katoa leading her team with an unbeaten century (103 retired not out off 77 balls), Rhys McKean scoring 126 off 169 balls for the Second XI (18 fours), and Mark Unternahrer passing the 9000 senior runs milestone for the Club. It was Katoa’s second century for Kilsyth CC and McKean’s fourth, his second century this season. The women had a second wicket partnership of 174, whilst there were two century partnerships for Kilsyth in the Second XI’s match. Furthermore, Anthony Cook smashed 66 for the Third XI off 44 balls to pass the 3000 senior runs milestone.
The First XI played Croydon Ranges at Silcock Reserve, Croydon in the Trollope Shield competition. Ranges won the toss and elected to bat. In the 11th over with the score on 16, Nuwan Sampath took his first wicket for Kilsyth, well caught at cover by Uvindu Wimaladharma from a leading edge. In a dramatic collapse, Croydon Ranges lost 5 wickets for 2 runs to be 5/18 in the 16th over. At that stage pace bowlers Kamal Kuruppu, 3/13 off 6.3 overs, and new recruit Nuwan Sampath 2/3 off 4 overs, had done the damage. Croydon Ranges then consolidated with a 37-run sixth wicket partnership between Blake Smith and Matt Steiniger which was broken in the 25th over, with the score on 55, when Steiniger, who had increased the run rate with some nice drives, was caught at mid-wicket by Sudhir Prabhu off the bowling of Andy Solomons for 26 off 39 balls. At tea, Croydon Ranges were 6/89 off 40 overs with Blake Smith on 30 not out and Joseph Blyth on 14 not out. In the second over after tea, spinner Hayden Pleming had Joseph Blyth well caught by Marcus Adams, who took a brilliant diving catch at first slip. Blyth had made 16 off 60 balls and shared a 37-run partnership with Blake Smith. Ranges were now 7/92 off 42 overs. It was soon 8/98 and then 9/105 in the 47th over when Nuwan Sampath took both wickets following good catches by Kamal Kuruppu at mid-off and Pasan Ganegoda at point. At that stage Kilsyth were well on top, but an 86-run last wicket partnership between Mitchell Thomas, 31 not out off 77 balls with 3 fours, and number 11 Darcy Carrigan, 52 off 81 balls, lifted the score to 191 all out off 72 overs. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Kamal Kuruppu, who took the last wicket (lbw) and finished with 4/34 off 12 overs, Nuwan Sampath 4/43 off 15 overs, Andy Solomons 1/25 off 7 overs, and Hayden Pleming 1/15 off 4 overs. Left arm orthodox spinner Uvindu Wimaladharma bowled very tightly, yielding only 18 runs from his 17 overs. There were nine catches taken in the field with Captain Marcus Adams snaring two.
Kilsyth were left 8 overs to bat before stumps. Unfortunately, the Redbacks lost a wicket on the second ball of the innings (lbw) but steadied to be 1/12 at stumps.
The Second XI played against Croydon Ranges Second XI at Alan Snith Oval, Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and decided to bat first. An opening partnership of 117 between Kevin Baldsing and Rhys McKean got the team off to a great start. Baldsing was the first batsman out for a well-made 58 off 69 balls, including 9 fours. A second wicket partnership of 110 between Rhys McKean and Joel Harris, 43 off 111 balls, put Kilsyth in a strong position. McKean was eventually out for a brilliant 126 (18 fours) with the score now 3/244. From there Kilsyth lost their way and were dismissed for 263 off 75.4 overs, after losing 8 wickets for 19 runs. The standout bowler for Croydon Ranges was Will Spencer, who captured 6/38 off 15 overs, whilst Nicholas Balthasar took 2/63 off 18 overs. Single wickets were claimed by Harrison Low, 1/14 off 4.4 overs, and Captain Michael Crosbie, 1/29 off 10 overs. Wicket keeper Ason Buffey took three catches.
The Third XI played Chirnside Park at Kimberley Reserve, Number 2 Oval with Kilsyth winning the toss and electing to bat. After losing a wicket in the first over to be 1/1, Anthony Cook and Justin Smith put on 84 for the second wicket, when Cook, who was in blistering form, was out for a cracking 66 off 44 balls. It was now 2/85 after 14 overs, and soon 3/87 when Justin Smith was out for 18 off 39 balls. Kilsyth lost another wicket in the 23rd over to be 4/102, and at tea the score had progressed to 4/134 from 37 overs. After a 41-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Mark Unternahrer and Dylan Smith, Unternahrer was out for 28 off 76 balls and Smith followed soon after for 24 off 69 balls. Kilsyth were now 6/154 after 44 overs. It became 7/176 in the 53rd over when Matt Harper was out for 13. Trent Potter (17 off 28 balls, 1 four), and Russell Hutchings added 31 for the 8th wicket, but in the end Kilsyth were all out for 218 in 69.4 overs. Hutchings scored 35 off 82 balls. Multiple wicket takers for Chirnside Park were Jack Hollins 3/21 off 10.4 overs, Reuben Johnson 2/38 off 13 overs, and Luke Ferrall 2/66 off 16 overs. At stumps Chirnside were 0/9 off 10 overs.
The Fourth XI played a split innings home match (36 overs per split), against Chirnside Park who won the toss and elected to bowl. After losing the first wicket on 44 when Rhys Kearney was out for 19 off 69 balls, a 52-run second wicket partnership between Captain Anthony Sequeira and Shaun Goodwin saw Kilsyth progress to 2/96, when Sequeira was dismissed for 38 off 106 balls. Goodwin followed shortly after for 33 off 34 balls, and Kilsyth were 3/102 at the end of the first split. In reply, Chirnside were 3/134 at stumps, the top scorer being Darren Cameron with 53 off 89 balls (9 fours).
The Fifth XI played Montrose at Keith Hume Fraser Reserve Number 2 Oval. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. The Redbacks lost their first wicket on 26, the second on 99, and after that continued to build partnerships, finishing on 5/217cc from 36 overs. Geoff Kennedy top scored with a solid 51 off 70 balls, and Greg Gommers contributed a sparkling 46 off 38 balls. Others to do well with the bat were Jordan Relf, 28 not out off 16 balls, Michael Panozzo 21 off 25 balls, Pat Moilanen 18 off 26 balls, and Mark Sfiligoj 17 not out off 18 balls. The multiple wicket taker for Montrose was Sunday Logan with 2/34 off 4 overs. In reply, Montrose started well with an opening partnership of 41 but after that, lost regular wickets to be 8/106cc from their allotted 36 overs. Captain Steve Kost top scored with 28 off 40 balls, and Ben Alexander scored 21 off 49 balls. John Wilson was Kilsyth’s best bowler with 3/14 off 7 overs, whilst single wicket takers were Captain Tyron Paspa, 1/5 off 3 overs, Shaun Wheater 1/12 off 3 overs, and Stewart Gibb 1/15 off 4 overs. With the win, the Fifth XI retained top position on the ladder.
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI played top side North Ringwood at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. North Ringwood won the toss and decided to bowl first. Kilsyth lost a wicket on the last ball of the first over, bowled by Jessica Smith, to be 1/7. Nicole Woolhouse was then joined by Captain Ashleigh Katoa, and they took the score to 1/101 off 15 overs at the drinks break, with Katoa on 60 not out and Woolhouse 17 not out. After drinks, they continued to pile on the runs until Katoa brought up her century with a boundary to retire on 103 not out off 77 balls (13 fours and 3 towering sixes). At that stage, the score was 1/166 off 24.2 overs with Woolhouse on 32 not out. The second wicket fell on 181 on the last ball of the 27th over when Nicole Woolhouse was brilliantly caught by Rhiannon Green in the gully, with her left hand fully outstretched, off the bowling of Zoe Williams. Woolhouse had batted solidly, picking the gaps to score 37 off 77 balls . After their allotted 30 overs, Kilsyth had posted 2/204cc with Hoang “Shorty” Huynh not out on 11 off 25 balls, and Avanthi Jayawickrema, 11 not out off 9 balls. Jessica Smith and Zoe Williams were North Ringwood’s wicket takers. In the run chase, North Ringwood lost early wickets to be 1/20, 2/20, 3/21, 4/32, 5/50 and 6/50, before Amanda Collins and Captain Kylie Rule added 60 runs for the seventh wicket. Collins made an impressive 36 off 40 balls and was well supported by Rule, who scored 23 off 58 balls. In the end North Ringwood were all out for 117 in 29.2 overs. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Lecia Baldry 5.2 overs 4/17, Courtney Anderson 6 overs 3/21, Sarah Gibbs 6 overs 2/21 and Avanthi Jayawickrema 1/16 off 3 overs. During the innings, Sarah Gibbs and Lecia Baldry were both on hat-tricks after they both took two wickets in two balls, whilst Courtney Anderson captured two wickets in three balls.
The Under 16-1’s lost the toss against Norwood at Mullum Reserve and were sent in to bat. Although Luke Childs batted well for 30 off 52 balls (2 fours), Kilsyth were dismissed for 102 off 31.3 overs. The outstanding bowler for Norwood was Charlie Sheers who captured 7/27 off 8.3 overs (1 maiden). In reply, Norwood were 1/56 off 15 overs with Andrew Kelly 28 not out (2 fours), and James Matthews 12 not out (1 four). Kilsyth’s Matthew Smith has 1/14 off 5 overs.
The Under 14-5 combined Yarra Glen/Kilsyth team had a very close match against Mount Evelyn that went down to the last ball. Yarra Glen/Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. Mount Evelyn posted 6/106cc off their 25 overs with Harry Dunstone the best with the willow, scoring 18 off 24 balls (2 fours). Yarra Glen/Kilsyth used 12 bowlers and the wickets were shared. In reply, Yarra Glen/Kilsyth lost by a solitary run finishing on 8/105cc. The best of the batsmen were Tait Harper, who scored 21 off 25 balls (1 four), Lucas Burke 16 retired not out off 25 balls, Isaac Coppens 16 retired not out off 25 balls (1 four), and Daniel Shaw 13 retired not out off 25 balls. Mount Evelyn’s wicket takers were Toby Kenins, 3/11 off 3 overs (1 maiden), Benjamin Dunstone 2/5 off 4 overs (2 maidens), and Jacdan Mikaelian 2/14 off 4 overs.
The U12-4’s played Boronia Hawks at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve. Boronia won the toss and elected to bat, posting 5/118cc off 23 overs. Ansul Rijal top scored with 42 off 28 balls (5 fours & 2 sixes), whilst Rhys Jackson made 31 not out off 29 balls (5 fours). Kilsyth’s wicket takers were Isaac Donley 1/4 off 2 overs, Zion Solomons 1/11 off 3 overs, and Tate Lindsay 1/14 off 3 overs. Kilsyth replied with 4/96cc off their allotted 23 overs. Zack Mellerick top scored with 19 off 24 balls (2 fours), Zion Solomons 15 retired not out off 15 balls (3 fours), Aiden Nicoll 13 off 9 balls (1 four,) and Noah Stirling 10 not out off 25 balls (1 four). The main wicket taker for Boronia was Brooklyn Cochrane with 2/12 off 4 overs.
