By Les Hutchings
It was a weekend of mixed results for Kilsyth Cricket Club in the first round after the Christmas break, resulting in three wins, two losses and a draw for the Club’s senior teams. Best individual performances came from Mark Unternahrer, who captured 6/23 and scored 21 not out for the Thirds, Steve Galea 66 not out off 35 balls (3 fours and a massive 7 sixes) for the Fourths, and Andy Solomons who continues to star for the First XI, scoring 51 and taking 2/30.
Kilsyth First XI played Montrose at the scenic Montrose Recreation Reserve with Mount Dandenong as the backdrop. Montrose won the toss and elected to field in the one-day match. Kilsyth lost an early wicket (lbw from the bowling of Cheyne Van Coll) on the last ball of the first over to be 1/2. Then a 43-run partnership between Andy Solomons and Jack Childs came to an end when Childs was trapped lbw for 12 at the end of Cooper Grigg’s first over, the 13th of the innings. A third wicket partnership of 44 between Andy Solomons and Mackenzie Scott-Thomas then took the score to 87 when Solomons, who had batted superbly for 51 off 72 balls (5 fours and 2 sixes), was caught by Blake Podesta off medium pacer Ben Clilverd in the 24th over. Scott-Thomas and Captain Marcus Adams then added 30 before Scott-Thomas was caught by Blake Podesta for 25 off 47 balls (1 four), after opening bowler Cheyne Van Coll had been reintroduced into the attack. Kilsyth were now 4/117 but then lost two quick wickets. Firstly, Marcus Adams was bowled by spinner Jacob Crowe for 14 (2 fours), to see the score now 5/119 and then it was 6/119 in the 31st over after a direct hit runout by Cooper Grigg. Kilsyth fought hard to get the score to 9/175cc after their allotted 40 overs with Pasan Ganegoda showing some good form with the bat and finishing on 32 not out off 38 balls (2 fours). Multiple wicket takers for Montrose were Cheyne Van Coll 2/31 off 8 overs and Jacob Crowe 2/42 off 8 overs.
The start after tea was delayed due to rain and lightning and after nine minutes of play, there was a further delay of 20 minutes due to another lightning strike. However, an 88-run opening partnership between Jacob Crowe and Blake Podesta set the run chase up for Montrose. Podesta was eventually out for 35 off 47 balls (4 fours) to a great catch by Will Beard at deep backward square leg on the boundary off left arm spinner Mackenzie Scott-Thomas. It was Macca’s 50th First XI wicket for Kilsyth Cricket Club. In the next over, Jacob Crowe was caught behind by Marcus Adams off the bowling of medium pacer Scott Nicholson for 43 off 48 balls (2 fours and 2 sixes). It was Nicholson’s 150th senior wicket for Kilsyth Cricket Club and Montrose were now 2/93 in the 17th over. Scott-Thomas took his second wicket in the next over and Montrose slumped to 3/103 in the 18th over. With the score on 3/121 after 20 overs, Andy Solomons came on to bowl for the first time and he had immediate success, capturing two wickets in his first two overs, the first wicket being that of Michael Edwards, well caught by Karmal Kuruppu on the square leg boundary for a rapid 25 off 17 balls (4 fours and 1 six). Thus, Montrose were now 5/137 in the 23rd over and after Kilsyth missed a few opportunities in the field, finished on 5/179 off 28.1 overs to win the match with 8 minutes to spare before the 7.00pm deadline. Ben Clilverd scored 26 not out off 27 balls (1 six), and Liam Storm 25 not out off 19 balls (2 fours). Chief wicket takers for Kilsyth were Mackenzie Scott-Thomas 2/28 off 5 overs and Andy Solomons 2/30 off 4 overs.
The Second XI played at home against Yarra Junction’s First XI. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. However, the Junction amassed the huge score of 2/273cc off their 40 overs. The highlight of the innings was a 198-run second wicket partnership between centurions David Lever, who scored 106 not out off 101 balls (13 fours), and Captain Travis Nightingale, 108 not out off 110 balls (10 fours and 1 six). Kilsyth’s wicket takers were Daniel Caton 1/39 off 8 overs (1 maiden), and Matthew Smith 1/31 off 6 overs. Kilsyth lost regular wickets in the run chase and were bundled out for 137 in 32.4 overs. Top scorers for the Redbacks were Sanjeeva Rana with 37 off 38 balls (4 fours), Dan Beard 23 off 47 balls (3 fours), and Anthony Cook 20 off 15 balls (4 fours). The main wicket takers for Yarra Junction were Daniel Lever, who bowled brilliantly to take 6/17 off 6.4 overs (2 maidens), and Rhys Matthews 2/42 off 8 overs.
The Third XI played Wantirna South at Chandler Park, Boronia and needed to win to keep their finals hopes alive. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. It proved to be the right decision as Wantirna South were dismissed for 84 after 37 overs. Opener Yuvaraj Jothi top scored with 19 off 45 balls (3 fours). Kilsyth used seven bowlers, the best being Mark Unternahrer, who captured 6/23 off 8 excellent overs, including 3 maidens. “Unters” took a wicket with his first ball and in his second over was on a hat-trick. Other bowlers to stand out were spinner Justin Smith, who took 2/20 off 8 overs (1 maiden), Mark Wells 1/9 off 6 overs, Kasun Ekanayake 1/3 off 2 overs, and Dylan Smith, 0/3 off 6 economical overs (4 maidens). Kilsyth were untroubled to chase down the target and finished on 2/85 off 10.5 overs to win by 8 wickets. Opener Joel Harris scored 19 off 19 balls (3 fours), whilst Justin Smith was 28 not out off 16 balls (6 fours), and Mark Unternahrer 21 not out off 22 balls (4 fours), the latter two sharing a 60-run unbroken partnership for the third wicket. The wicket takers for Wantirna South were Pratik Patel 1/16 off 4 overs, and Marcus Ballard 1/15 off 2 overs.
The Fourth XI played at home on Roy Baldwin Oval against Healesville’s Third XI who won the toss and elected to bat. The Bloods were all out for 147 in 34 overs, Adam Keath top scoring with 26 off 15 balls (5 fours and 1 six). Next best with the willow were Tyler Braden 19 off 44 balls (1 four), and Amandeep Singh 18 off 11 balls (3 fours and 1 six). Kilsyth leg spinner Andrew Smith captured 3/28 off 7 overs, Ravin Mehra 2/15 off 5 overs, Michael Sturt 2/21 off 7 overs (2 maidens), and Travis Tyszkiewicz 1/23 off 7 overs. Wicket keeper Russell Hutchings was lively behind the stumps with 3 catches. In the run chase, Kilsyth lost two wickets at 41 and 62 respectively, before an unbroken third wicket partnership of 87 between Steve Galea, 66 not out off 35 balls (3 fours and 7 sixes), and Captain Anthony Sequeira 20 not out off 23 balls (2 fours and 1 six), steered the team to victory. Opener Andrew Smith also did well with the bat scoring 34 off 49 balls (3 fours and 1 six). It was a good win for the Fourth XI who are second on the ladder after 10 rounds.
The Fifth XI won on forfeit against Seville and are also second on the ladder.
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI’s home game against Bayswater Park was abandoned due to the wet weather without a ball being bowled. The Women’s team are fourth on the ladder.
There were no junior matches played on the weekend.
