By Les Hutchings
The last home and away round of the season for Kilsyth Cricket Club’s Men’s senior teams was played on Saturday resulting in 3 wins and 2 losses. The Third, Fourth and Fifth XI’s all won and will play in the Semi-Finals next weekend, whilst the First and Second XIs both lost.
Kilsyth Captain Coach Marcus Adams top scored for the round with 76 off 103 balls in the First XI, whilst Matthew Harper took out the bowling honours with 4/6 off 3.2 overs for the Fourth XI. Kilsyth Women’s First XI and the U14’s both won their Semi Finals whilst the U12’s Semi Final resulted in a loss.
On Sunday, Kilsyth Women’s First XI played North Ringwood in the semi-final at Colman Reserve, South Warrandyte. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. An opening partnership of 87 in 17.5 overs between Belinda Hutchings, 41 off 68 balls and Nicole Woolhouse, got the Redbacks off to a great start. With the score on 96, Woolhouse was the second wicket to fall for a fine 24 off 45 balls. In
the end, Kilsyth amassed 5/157cc off their allotted 30 overs with Captain Ashleigh Katoa run out off the last ball attempting a second run. Katoa made a brisk 38 off 31 balls. The single wicket takers for North Ringwood were Emily McKie 1/9 of 2 overs, Captain Kylie Rule 1/15 off 6 overs, Emily Kane 1/16 off 3 overs, and Elsie Carbery 1/25 off 4 overs.
After the tea break, Lecia Baldry captured a wicket with the second ball of the innings to have North Ringwood 1/1. Avanthi Jayawickrema then claimed the second wicket in the 10th over with the score on 27. Amanda Collins was batting well for North Ringwood and after she hit a towering six over backward square leg, the ball was lost and had to be replaced. However, the very next ball, which was the last
before the drinks break, Sarah Gibbs bowled Collins for a well-made 34 off 53 balls. Jessica Smith and Emma Peter-Budge lifted the score to 82 when Peter-Budge was out LBW to the bowling of Ashleigh Katoa for 13 off 24 balls. It soon became 5/83, 6/83, 7/83 and 8/93 even though Jessica Smith batted well to score 18 off 37 balls. Emily McKie (11) and Jenelle Williams (11) put on 21 for the ninth wicket but in the end North Ringwood was all out for 114 in 29.1 overs. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Avanthi Jayawickrema, 3/10 off 4 overs, Lecia Baldry 2/16 off 5.1 overs, Sarah Gibbs 2/24 off 5 overs, Ashleigh Katoa 1/14 off 4 overs, and Georgia Smith 1/29 off 6 overs. Courtney Anderson also bowled well to finish with 0/17 off 5 economical overs. It was a good win for the Women’s team who now play Wandin in the Grand Final next Sunday.
The First XI, needing to win to avoid relegation from the Trollope Shield competition, played Lilydale at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. Lilydale won the toss and elected to bat. They got off to an excellent start with openers Jarryd Gaskin and Quinton Hodgkinson putting on 102 for the first wicket in 18 overs. Gaskin was first out, caught at deep square leg by Nuwan Sampath off the bowling of left-arm spinner Uvindu Wimaladharma for 44 off 71 balls. In the very next over, a brilliant runout by Andy Solomos to ’keeper Will Beard saw Lilydale now 2/102 after 19 overs. It soon became 3/111 when Wimaladharma picked up his second wicket, LBW on the first ball of the 22nd over, and Kilsyth was fighting back. It was 4/124 after 25 overs when Hodgkinson was caught behind by Will Beard off pace bowler Nuwan Sampath for a sparking 60 off 50 balls. A steadying fifth wicket partnership of 40 between Angus Adamson and Lachlan Volpe came to an end when Volpe was bowled by Uvindu Wimaladharma for 23 off 28 balls It was now 5/164 off 33.1 overs with Angus Adamson on 25 not out. In the next over, Nuwan Sampath picked up his second wicket to make the score now 6/171. Then it became 7/176 after 35.3 overs when Andy Solomons dismissed Angus Adamson for 32 off 48 balls (2 fours) with a direct hit run out. However, Rhys Smith, 20 not out off 19 balls, and Michael Cardamone 8 not out off 11 balls, shared an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 30 in 27 balls to see Lilydale finish on 7/206cc off their allotted 40 overs. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Unvindu Wimaladharma, who captured 3/35 off 8 overs, and Nuwan Sampath 2/35 off 8 overs, with two runouts to Andy Solomons.
After the tea break, Kilsyth’s Marcus Adams and Jack Childs put on 25 for the first wicket before Childs was caught for 9 off a full toss in the 6th over. Andy Solomons and Adams then shared a second wicket partnership of 69. Solomons was in fine touch, but unfortunately for Kilsyth, he nicked a ball off Cooper Doughty and was caught behind for 41 off 39 balls. A third-wicket partnership of 21 runs ended when Mackenzie Scott-Thomas was caught by Quinton Hodgkinson off Doughty for 17 off 15 balls, to see Kilsyth 3/115 off 23.1 overs. By comparison, Lilydale were 3/122 off 23 overs in their innings, so the game was fairly evenly poised. Marcus Adams and Pasan Ganegoda then took the score to 3/189 after 37 overs and the Redbacks needed 18 runs off 18 balls with 7 wickets in hand to win and avoid relegation. The first two balls of spinner Lachlan Volpe’s next over were dots, and with the next ball, he took the prize wicket of Adams, bowled for 76 off 103 balls. Only 2 singles came off Volpe’s over and Kilsyth now needed 16 to win off 12 balls. Six runs came from the next over and the Redbacks were 4/197 off 39 overs, needing 10 off the last over. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and Kilsyth lost 3 wickets for 2 runs in Volpe’s last over to finish on 7/199cc and lose by 7 runs. At the close, Pasan Ganegoda was 39 not out off 56 balls, including 3 boundaries. It was a disappointing end to the season after getting so close to victory. For Lilydale, Lachlan Volpe captured 4/35 off 8 overs, Cooper Doughty 2/34 off 6 overs and Rhys Smith 1/19 off 3 overs.
The Second XI played Warrandyte at Warrandyte in the Pascoe Shield competition and also needed to win to avoid relegation. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. The first wicket fell on 16 in the fifth over, followed by a 53-run partnership for the second wicket between Rhys McKean and Daniel Caton. It was in the 19th over that Blake Matheson bowled Caton for 20 off 51 balls. Another quick wicket saw Kilsyth 3/77 after 23 overs with Rhys McKean on 38 not out. Then McKean and Joel Harris added 72 for the fourth wicket and after 36 overs Kilsyth were 4/149, with McKean dismissed for 67 off 101 balls (7 fours). Harris went on to score 52 not out off 57 balls, to see Kilsyth reach 6/170cc of their allotted 40 overs. The main wicket takers for Warrandyte were Blake Matheson 2/11 off 4 overs, and Jack Ellis 2/14 off 3 overs. Warrandyte had little trouble chasing down the target, finishing on 1/174 off 33.3 overs. A highlight of the match was an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 130 between Lachlan McLary 101 not out off 104 balls and Jack Ellis 61 not out off 84 balls. The sole wicket-taker for Kilsyth was Daniel Stapelfeldt with 1/37 off 8 overs.
The Third XI played Yarra Junction’s Second XI at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth, who had to win to play in the finals, won the toss and elected to bat. The Redbacks lost two early wickets to be 2/21, but a third wicket partnership of 55 between Captain Robert Hutchings and Mark Unternahrer steadied the situation until Hutchings was caught by Beaudon Nash off the bowling of Ryan Carter for 22 off 49 balls. Soon after, Unternahrer was bowled by Tyler Reed for 23 off 38 balls and Kilsyth were now 4/79. Wickets then fell quickly, 5/81, 6/85, 7/100, 8/114 and 9/128 with the Redbacks in real trouble. It was then that young Max Wills joined the experienced Andrew Woolhouse and they shared a fighting last-wicket partnership of 43 before Wills was out for a valuable 8 off 22 balls. Thus, Kilsyth were all out for 171 in 38.1 overs, Woolhouse top scoring with an enterprising 61 not out off 61 balls. Multiple wicket takers for Yarra Junction were Anthony Davis, 3/20 off 8 overs (2 maidens), Ryan Carter 2/13 off 2.2 overs, and Tyler Reed 2/40 off 8 overs.
In the run chase, Yarra Junction lost their first wicket on 31 when Ryan Carter was caught by Max Wills off the bowling of Dylan Smith for a quickfire 28 off 18 balls. The second wicket fell on 69 when fellow opener Jack Jenkinson was caught by Dylan Smith off pace bowler Joel Gibb for 23 off 36 balls. Yarra Junction continued to accumulate runs and progressed to 3/107 when Cam Bell was caught by Russell Hutchings off Matthew Smith for 22 off 59 balls. When the score had reached 3/133, the Junction were in a strong position, needing only 39 for victory. However, it was here that that game changed. Club stalwart Mark Unternahrer picked up three quick wickets and Yarra Junction were now 6/151 and then they collapsed to be all out for 155. Yarra Junction’s Toby Hawkins top scored
with 34 off 55 balls. For Kilsyth, Joel Gibb captured 3/20 off 5 overs, Mark Unternahrer 3/28 off 8 overs, Dylan Smith 2/24 off 6.1 overs and Matthew Smith 1/18 off 5 overs. It was a very good win by the Third XI who retained third place and play Lusatia Park Second XI in the Semi-Final next Saturday and Sunday.
The Fourth XI played St Andrews at JW Manson Reserve in a must win game to play in the finals. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. However, St Andrews got a way to a blistering start with an opening partnership of 86 in 14.5 overs. Michael Sturt captured the first wicket when David Cann was trapped LBW for 30. In the very next over, Seminda Rajapaksha was caught by Ravin Mehra off leg spinner Andrew Smith for a well-made 54 and the Saints were now 2/88 from 16 overs. After 23 overs they had lifted their score to 2/137 and were in a good position. However, Andrew Smith achieved the breakthrough when he bowled Ryan Collett for 18. Fellow spinner Matthew Harper then trapped Captain Steve Day LBW for 34 to see St Andrews now 4/146 in the 26th over. From there the Saints collapsed to be all out for 173 in 31.2 overs. Matthew Harper took the bowling honours after capturing 4/6 off 3.2 overs. Opening bowler Travis Tyszkiewicz finished with 3/28 off 7 overs and Andrew Smith 2/45 off 7 overs. Kilsyth chased down the target reaching 7/177 after 33.3 overs. Opener Andrew Smith struck a sparkling 51, whilst Captain Anthony Sequeira scored 27. Ravin Mehra chipped in with 16, and Steve Galea was 16 not out when the victory was achieved. The main wicket takers for St Andrews were Ryan Collett 3/25 off 4.5 overs and Matthew Millar 2/27 off 7 overs. The Fourth XI finished fourth on the ladder and play top team North Ringwood next weekend in the Semi-Final.
The Fifth XI played Montrose at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve, Kilsyth. Montrose won the toss and elected to bowl. However, Kilsyth had a day out with the bat scoring 3/246cc of their allotted 36 overs. The chief run-getters were Greg Gommers 50 retired not out off 29 balls, Michael Panozzo 50 retired not out off 49 balls, Geoff Kennedy 45 off 52 balls, Mark Sfiligoj 43 not out off 24 balls and Pat Moilanen 28 off 31 balls. The
multiple wicket taker for Montrose was Jai Montell with 2/43 off 6 overs. A highlight of Kilsyth’s innings was a 154-run third-wicket partnership shared between four players, Gommers, Panozzo, Moilanen and Sfiligoj, due to two mandatory retirements at 50. In reply, Montrose scored a creditable 5/172cc off 36 overs. The top scorers were Noah Coles 33 off 58 balls, Darcy Whitehead 31 not out off 37 balls, Lachlan Felsch 26 off 36 balls, Captain Steve Cost 21 not out off 28 balls and Garry Mangnall 20 off 17 balls Veteran Stewart Gibb was the main wicket-taker for Kilsyth with 2/18 off 6 overs. The Fifths finished on top of the ladder and play Montrose at Roy Baldwin Oval, Kilsyth in the Semi Final next Saturday.
The U14-5 one-day Semi Final between the merged Yarra Glen/Kilsyth team and Wandin was played at Yarra Glen last Saturday morning. Yarra Glen/Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. The first wicket fell on 22 after 4.2 overs when Lucas Burke was run out for 10 off 15 balls by Aiden Peet. A second wicket partnership of 42 lifted the score to 64 when the merged team lost their second wicket after 10.4 overs. Then the third wicket fell on 81 after 14.2 overs. By that time, Ronak Mehra had retired on 20 not out off 25 balls, and Lawson Appleton had retired on 22 not out off 25 balls (2 fours). From there wickets continued to fall with Yarra Glen/Kilsyth all out for 97 in 20.4 overs, losing 8 wickets for 16 runs in a dramatic collapse. The best of Wandin’s bowlers were Blake Richards 3/8 off 3 overs (1 maiden), Captain Harry Churchill 2/13 off 4.4 overs, Emanuel Vallence 1/4 off 2 overs, and Elijah Moloney 1/7 off 2 overs.
Yarra Glen/Kilsyth’s bowlers kept the pressure on with tight bowling and after 5 overs Wandin were 2/4 and then, after 11 overs the score was 2/9. From there it was a tough task for the Wandin batsmen as wickets continued to fall: 3/10, 4/32, 5/33, 6/40, 7/44 and all out for 70 in 24.5 overs. The best of the batsmen were Lewis Vaughan with 21 off 33 balls, and Aidan Peet 15 retired not out off 25 balls (1 four). Yarra Glen/Kilsyth’s best bowlers were Zavier Thwaites, 2/1 off 1 over, Hayden Monds 1/2 off 3 overs (2 maidens), and Tait Harper 1/4 off 3 overs (1 maiden). There were also 3 run outs.
The Under12-4 one-day Semi Final between Boronia Hawks and Kilsyth was played at Chandler Park, Boronia last Friday evening. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. However, the Redbacks got off to a bad start and were soon 3/0, all clean bowled. Rhys Jackson picked up two wickets in two balls and Milan Chari one wicket. Kilsyth then consolidated with the fourth wicket falling on 40. However, the Redbacks then lost another wicket to be 5/40 and later 6/58, before finishing on 6/71cc after 23 overs. The following batsmen retired after facing 15 balls each, but then came back in later on to post final scores as follows: Bailey Kennon 9 off 29 balls, Tate Lindsay 12 retired not out after 30 balls (1 four), Aiden Nicoll 6 not out off 17 balls, Isaac Joy 7 not out off 18 balls and Isaac Donnelly retired 6 not out off 15 balls. Boronia used 8 bowlers with the standout being Rhys Jackson who sent down 3 overs 3 maidens and captured 4/0 (all bowled). The other wicket takers were Milan Chari 1/4 off 3 overs (1 maiden) and Samah Nidenko 1/10 off 3 overs.
After the break, Kilsyth bowlers Zion Solomons and Tate Lindasy struck early to have Boronia 2/7. However, the next wicket did not fall until the score had reached 87 (caught by Aiden Nicoll, bowled Isaac Donley). In the end Boronia achieved a comfortable victory, scoring 3/127cc off their allotted 23 overs. For Boronia, Rhys Jackson completed an outstanding all-round performance by scoring 39 not out off 27 balls (6 fours). Others to do well with the bat were Brooklyn Cochrane, Byron Haydon (2 fours) and Devansh Tuteja (1 four), who all retired on 11 not out, together with Samah Nidenko, 9 retired not out off 15 balls (2 fours), and Milan Chari 7 not out off 14 balls. Kilsyth’s wicket takers were Zion Solomons, 1/7 off 4 overs (2 maidens), Tate Lindsay 1/11 off 2 overs, and Isaac Donley 1/9 off 2 overs. Congratulations to the U12 team on making the finals and well done to Boronia who proved to be the better team on the day.
