Kilsyth Cricket Club’s men’s senior matches were cancelled on Saturday due to the exceptionally hot weather. With the forecast temperature predicted to be 39 degrees, the RDCA enacted the heat policy and abandoned scheduled fixtures. The round, originally over two-days, will now be completed under one-day conditions next weekend. The Fifths and Women’s team had no scheduled matches due to the Australia Day long weekend. However, Kilsyth’s two U12 teams played on Friday evening and the U14s and U16s played on Saturday morning, with the start time moved forward to 8am to escape the heat.
On Saturday morning in Division 3, Kilsyth’s U16 team (first) commenced a two-day match against Chirnside Park (second) at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. Chirnside Park won the toss and elected to bat in hot conditions with Kilsyth only having nine players available. After losing wickets on 35, 61 and 119, Chirnside were flying at 3/145 after 32 overs with 18 overs still to be bowled. Then, on the third ball of the 33rd over with the score on 146, Isaac Ronalds was caught by Tait Harper off the bowling of Rhys Kearney for a well-made 31 off 50 balls (three fours). From there, Kilsyth fought back, claiming regular wickets as follows: 5/156, 6/163, 7/183, 8/194, 9/199 and all out for 199 after 47.1 overs. Other main run getters for Chirnside were Andrew Slinn, 31 off 56 balls (three fours), and opener Kade Riches 21 off 47 balls (one four). Kilsyth’s Rhys Kearney was outstanding with the ball, claiming 4/16 off 9 overs (four maidens). He was well supported by Max Wills, 3/21 off 8.1 overs (two maidens), Joshua Dousset 2/18 off 7 overs (one maiden), and Hayden Monds 1/56 off 9 overs. It was good to see Max Wills bowling again after not bowling in the previous three U16 matches due to an injury. In the field, wicket keeper Adriaan Van Gent, Hayden Monds and Tait Harper each took a catch.
Returning after the break, the U14-5 team (fifth) played Laburnum (third) at Koonung Reserve, West Oval. Kilsyth had a young side with five U12 players in the team of 11. Laburnum won the toss and elected to bowl. The Redbacks lost two wickets in the first over, bowled by Aahan Modi, to be 2/3. Zack Mellerick (19 off 24 balls, two fours), and Bailey Kennon (seven), added 33 for the third wicket before both were dismissed in the eighth over, which was bowled by Patrick Waterworth. Kilsyth were now 4/37 off 7.5 overs. A 55-run fifth wicket partnership between U12 player Tate Lindsay and Ronak Mehra lifted the score to 5/92 off 14.4 overs when Lindsay was out for a well-made 25 off 24 balls (four fours). Then the Redbacks lost two more wickets in the 17th over to be 7/97. After losing the ninth wicket on 109 from 20.3 overs, Kilsyth finished on 9/129cc off 23 overs with Ronak Mehra, an impressive 38* off 35 balls (three fours), and Liam Johnson 14* off 15 balls (two fours). The multiple wicket takers for Laburnum were Ella McKaskill, 3/3 off 2 overs, whilst Aahan Modi and Patrick Waterworth both took 2/8 off 2 overs each. Aahan Modi was also outstanding in the field taking 4 catches, including 3 as wicket keeper.
After being 2/39 off 6.5 overs, Laburnum passed Kilsyth’s score at the end of the 19th over, having reached 2/129 at that stage. They then lost five wickets in the next four overs with Kilsyth finishing strongly. Laburnum’s innings ended on 7/153cc off 23 overs to win by 25 runs. The top scorers for Laburnum were opener Aahan Modi, 30 retired not out off 25 balls (four fours and one six), Lachlan Cheetham 28 off 14 balls (six fours), and Lachlan Wynn 19 retired not out (two fours). Kilsyth’s Tyler Paarman captured 2/13 off 2 overs, with single wickets to Ronak Mehra, 1/7 off 2 overs, Angus Bright 1/10 off 3 overs, whilst Isaac Donley and Zack Mellerick, both snared 1/18 off 2 overs each. Ronak Mehra took two catches and Tyler Paarman one, Bailey Kennon achieved a run out and Tate Lindsay a stumping.
On Friday evening, the U12-3 team (second) played ladder leader Croydon Ranges in a two-day split innings match at Silcock Reserve, North Oval. Croydon Ranges won the toss and elected to bowl. Kilsyth opener Isaac Donley batted well to score 23 off 40 balls (two fours) but the Redbacks lost wickets regularly and at the end of the first spilt were 8/74 off 23 overs. Bailey Kennon was 14 not out off 34 balls (one four), whilst Zion Solomons scored 10 off 11 balls (one four). For Croydon Ranges, Hugo Osanz captured 3/13 off 3 overs, Ryley Stephen 1/3, Xavier Payne 1/3, Larson Moran 1/3, and James Sainsbury 1/7 off 2 overs each. Wicket keeper Xavier Ramsay effected two stumpings and a runout assist. In reply, Croydon Ranges were 4/141 off their 23 overs. Xavier Ramsey was the standout batsman with 69 retired not out off 40 balls (10 fours). Larson Moran was 20* off 25 balls (three fours), and Oscar Bannister retired on 15 not out (one four). The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Angus Bright, 2/9 off 2 overs, Tate Lindsay 1/11 off 3 overs, and Isaac Donley 1/16 off 2 overs. In the field, Kilsyth’s Tate Lindsay, Isaac Joy and Dylan Ekanayake each took a catch. The match continues next week.
The U12-6 team, second on the ladder, played their first game after the Christmas break in a one-day match against seventh-placed Ainslie Park at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve. Ainslie Park won the toss and sent Kilsyth in to bat first. The first wicket fell on 47 after 15.4 overs and in the end the Redbacks compiled 1/79 off their allotted 23 overs. Seven batsmen retired not out after facing 15 balls each with the top scorers being Harrison Sfiligoj 11* (one four), Wesley Bowman 10* (two fours), and Cooper Clark 10*. The sole wicket taker for Ainslie Park was Oliver Meffin with 1/5 off 2 overs.
Ainslie Park set about the run chase but Xavier Law achieved the breakthrough for Kilsyth to see Ainslie 1/9 after 2.4 overs. A steadying second wicket partnership of 38 took Ainslie to 2/47 off 13.1 overs with victory within sight. However, Harrison Sfiligoj picked up two wickets in the 14th over, Tex Wells another in the 15th over, and Wesley Bowman one more in the 18th over to see Ainslie Park slump to 5/57 off 17.2 overs. Thus, with 5.4 overs remaining, they needed 23 runs to win the match. When Tex Wells ran out Oliver Meffin for 13 on the fourth ball of the 20th over, Ainslie Park were 6/67 and still needed 13 to win off 3.2 overs. At the start of the 23rd and last over, the seventh wicket fell with the score on 76 (another run out by Tex Wells), so four runs were needed off the last five balls with one wicket in hand. Ainslie Park only had nine players, so the last pair of Parv Patel and Eli Diekhake were at the crease, both had retired not out earlier. These two got the job done for Ainslie Park, with Patel taking a single off the second ball of the last over and Diekhake hitting a boundary off the third ball. So, in a close game, Ainslie Park finished on 7/83 off 23 overs with Eli Diekhake 24* off 25 balls (four fours), and Parv Patel 14* off 31 balls (one four). Kilsyth’s wicket takers were Harrison Sfiligoj, 2/2 off 2 overs (one maiden), Wesley Bowman 1/3 off 2 overs, Tex Wells 1/5 off 2 overs, and Xavier Law 1/15 off 3 overs. In the field, Tex Wells took a catch behind the stumps and achieved two run outs, whilst Cooper Clark and Wesley Bowman each took a catch. Despite the loss, Kilsyth’s U12-6 team remain second on the ladder.
Kilsyth CC Women’s First XI, Round 10 v Lusatia Park
Sunday 18 January
Scores: Kilsyth 8/173cc off 36 overs (A. Katoa 37, C. Anderson 28*, Stephanie Gibbs 24, B. Hutchings 20, E. Amore 3/22) defeated Lusatia Park 113 off 31.4 overs (C. Parker 21, E. Bradley 19, L. Baldry 3/12, Stephanie Gibbs 2/21)
