By Les Hutchings
Kilsyth’s senior teams won three and lost three matches on the weekend with some close finishes. The Second XI lost off the third last ball, whilst the Third XI match was in doubt with only 2 balls remaining. The best batting performance came from Women’s Captain Ashleigh Katoa, who scored 49 not out, including 8 boundaries. The Third XI’s Justin Smith produced the best all-round performance, scoring 37 and taking 3/19 off 8 tight overs.
On Saturday in Trollope Shield, Kilsyth Cricket Club’s First XI played North Ringwood at Barngeong Reserve, which is North’s home ground this season. The Bulls won the toss and elected to bat. The first wicket fell on 29 in the 6th over when a good throw from Kilsyth’s Pasan Ganegoda to ’keeper Marcus Adams saw Nathaniel l’Anson run out for 17 off 18 balls (2 fours). Ryan Peter-Budge then joined opener Aaron Leis and at drinks they had taken the score to 1/92 after 20 overs. Their 118-run second wicket partnership came to an end with the score on 147 in the 30th over when Leis was well caught at cover by Kamal Kuruppu off the bowling of left arm spinner Uvindu Wimaladharma. Leis had batted solidly for 50 off 76 balls (2 fours) to help set the game up for North Ringwood with Peter-Budge, who at that stage was on 66 not out. In the 35th over with the score on 182, Mitch Skinner was the next wicket to fall, caught at deep square leg by Pasan Ganegoda off the bowling of Mackenzie Scott-Thomas for 17 off 16 balls (1 four). In the meantime, Peter-Budge had progressed to 84 not out. On the last ball of the innings, Andy Solomons clean bowled Charlie Moore for 17 off 12 balls (1 four), to see North Ringwood post an imposing 4/238cc off their allotted 40 overs. Ryan Peter-Budge played a brilliant innings, and finished on 121 not out off 119 balls (6 fours & 3 sixes). He only gave one chance when he was on 58, a difficult catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary with the ball eventually going for six. For Kilsyth, Uvindu Wimaladharma, Andy Solomons and Mackenzie Scott-Thomas each took one wicket.
After the tea break, Kilsyth lost a wicket in the first over to be 1/7. However, after 5 overs the score had progressed to 1/43 in a bright start. Then Jay Stoikos, who had gone for 24 runs off his first two overs, bowled a double wicket maiden to have Kilsyth 3/43. This included the prize wicket of Andy Solomons, who was caught on the boundary after a quick-fire 20 off 13 balls (2 fours & 1 six). It soon became 4/44 when opener Jack Childs was caught behind by Aaron Leis off Jay Stoikos for 13 off 17 balls (2 fours). Then wickets fell regularly: 5/52, 6/75, 7/98, 8/112, 9/114 and all out 114. Pasan Ganegoda played some nice shots in his 26 off 39 balls (2 fours), whilst Mackenzie Scott-Thomas scored 18 off 19 balls (2 fours). Multiple wicket takers for North Ringwood were Jay Stoikos 4/35 off 5.2 overs (1 maiden), Luke Ridgwell 2/20 off 5 overs, and Mitch Skinner 2/25 off 5 overs (1 maiden). Wicket keeper Aaron Leis took three catches.
The Second XI had a tight match against North Ringwood on Alan Smith Oval at Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and batted first. Openers Sudhir Prabhu and Rhys McKean got the Redbacks off to a great start with an opening partnership of 97. On the first ball after the 20 over drinks break, Prabhu was caught by Errol Lumani off the bowling of Benjamin Gill for 45 off 65 balls (6 fours). It was soon 2/108 in the 24th over when McKean was out for 43 off 62 balls (4 fours). Kilsyth then slumped to 6/130 before Dylan Smith and Daniel Stapelfeldt (13) put on 47 for the 7th wicket, when Smith was run out for 28 off 37 balls (4 fours). In the end Kilsyth compiled a competitive 8/188c after 40 overs. The standout bowler for North Ringwood was Benjamin Gill, who captured 5/26 off 8 overs. In the run chase, North Ringwood were 6/75 at the drinks break after 20 overs with Benjamin Gill on 30 not out. When David Maddox was stumped for 22 off 25 balls (2 fours), North Ringwood had progressed to 7/118 in the 29th over with Gill on 47 not out. The 8th wicket fell at 170 in the 37th over and with 3 overs remaining, North Ringwood needed 19 to win. However, with 18 runs coming off the next 2 overs, scores were tied on 188 with one over remaining. Sanjeev Rana was introduced into the attack to bowl his first over for the match. No run came from the first ball and the second ball resulted in a wicket. So North Ringwood were now 9/188 with 4 balls remaining. The third ball was a dot but on the third last ball, North got the run to achieve a victory in a very close finish. Benjamin Gill finished on 92 not out off 102 balls (2 fours & 4 sixes) in a match winning all-round performance. Wicket takers for Kilsyth were Captain Daniel Staplelfeldt 2/29 off 8 overs, leg spinner Kyan Haper 2/36 off 7 overs, Matthew Young 2/43 off 8 overs, Sanjeeve Rana 1/1 off 0.4 overs, Dylan Smith 1/32 off 8 overs, and Daniel Caton 1/46 off 8 overs.
The Third XI journeyed down to Woori Yallock Reserve to play Lusatia Park. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. An opening partnership of 43 between Anthony Cook and Captain Robert Hutchings came to an end in the 7th over when Cook was stumped for 32 off 30 balls (4 fours & 1 six). It soon became 2/50 and then 3/64 in the 14th over when Hutchings was out for 20 off 43 balls (3 fours). At the half-way drinks break, Kilsyth were 3/88 off 20 overs. A 56-run fourth wicket partnership between Justin Smith and Andrew Woolhouse took the score to 120 when Smith was caught for 37 off 55 balls (5 fours). Kilsyth then lost a clump of wickets, 5/122 when Woolhouse was out for 30 off 48 balls (2 fours), 6/123 and 7/136 in the 33rd over. In the 40th and last over Kilsyth lost two wickets and scored 8 runs, including an important 6 struck by Mark Wells off the second last ball, to be all out for 169. Chief wicket takers for Lusatia Park were Paul Broussard 4/30 off 8 overs (1 maiden), Jackson Wright 3/24 off 6 overs, and Stephen Morgan 2/20 off 8 overs. In reply, Lusatia Park reached 2/52 at the 20 over drinks break. They then slumped to 3/70 & 4/70 when the first over from Mark Wells was a double wicket maiden. Spinner Justin Smith picked up a wicket in his next over and Lusatia Park were now 5/72 after 29 overs. Stephen Morgan and Viren Kumar then took the score to 5/151 after 38 overs. So now the equation was that Lusatia Park needed 19 runs off the last 2 overs to win. However, Trent Potter bowled a brilliant second last over, only yielding 4 singles and so the score was now 5/155 off 39 overs with one over remaining. Mark Wells, bowling the last over, restricted the batsmen to only 6 runs off his first 4 balls, so Lusatia Park needed 9 off the last two balls. However, it wasn’t to be and with a runout off the last ball, they finished on 6/161 with Kilsyth running out winners by 8 runs. Viren Kumar was run out for 54 off 36 balls (5 fours & 2 sixes), and Stephen Morgan remained 28 not out off 35 balls (2 fours). All six Kilsyth bowlers did a good job with Justin Smith completing a great all-round game taking 3/19 off 8 overs (1 maiden). Trent Potter took 1/26 off his 8 overs, Mark Wells 1/47 off 7 overs, whilst Robert Hutchings kept it tight yielding only 10 runs off his 4 overs. The win puts the Thirds only 2 points out of the four with 3 rounds remaining.
The Fourth XI played North Ringwood on Roy Baldwin Oval at Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat but after 16 overs were 3/42, with opener Ben Nicoll the second wicket to fall for 21 off 50 balls (2 fours). A fourth wicket partnership of 48 between Shane Smith and Jamie Tooth (15 off 29 balls including 2 fours), lifted the score to 4/90 after 23 overs. It was 5/109 after 27 overs when Smith was bowled by Matt Power for a bright 37 off 43 balls (6 fours). Then Matt Harper and Jake Powell (11) lifted the score to 147 when Harper was caught behind for 26 off 30 balls (2 fours). From there Kilsyth finished on 9/157cc after their 36 allotted overs. Multiple wicket takers for North Ringwood were Chris Redfern 3/23 off 6 overs, and Stephen Parsons 2/16 off 5 overs (1 maiden). An opening partnership of 67 between Colin Rule and Nam Ngo (12), got North Ringwood off to a good start and they went on to win the game with 2 overs to spare, finishing on 6/158. Colin Rule, who was runout for 71 off 71 balls (9 fours & 1six), was the top scorer whilst the next best with the willow was Amos Horneman, with 24 off 23 balls (4 fours). Wicket takers for Kilsyth were Captain Anthony Sequeira, who captured 2/18 off 6 overs (1 maiden), Matt Harper 1/9 off 3 overs, Brodie Goodwin 1/12 off 3 overs, and Andrew Smith 1/20 off 7 overs. The Fourths are now third on the ladder after 11 rounds.
The Fifth XI played Chirnside Park at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve. Chirnside won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they were soon in trouble at 4/35, with veteran Stewart Gibb picking up 3 wickets and Shaun Goodwin, playing his 250th senior match for the Redbacks, effecting a brilliant direct hit run out. A fifth wicket partnership of 64 between Ronav Nair and Captain James Basford then took the score to 99 when Basford was bowled by Brian Matanisiga for 30 off 66 balls (3 fours). In the end, Chirnside compiled 9/134cc off their 36 overs with Ronav Nair scoring 28 off 78 balls, and Peter Schilling 20 off 15 balls (2 fours). Stewart Gibb took the bowling honours with 3/28 off 6 overs (1 maiden), John Wilson snared 2/14 off 7 overs (2 maidens), Mark Sfiligoj 2/19 off 5 overs (1 maiden), and Brian Matanisiga 1/21 off 3 overs.
Chasing 135 to win, Kilsyth lost early wickets to be 3/35, then 4/57 & 5/76 when Brian Matanisiga was dismissed for 20 off 32 balls (5 fours). Then a steadying partnership between Mark Sfiligoj and James Scott, who drove down from Maryborough to play in the match to celebrate Shaun Godwin’s 250th game, took the score to 110. It was then that Scott was out for a most valuable 28 off 17 balls (5 fours). Sfiligoj went on to score 34 not out off 24 balls (4 fours & 1 six), and Kilsyth reached 6/135 off 26 overs to win the match comfortably and retain second position on the ladder. The multiple wicket taker for Chirnside was Joshua Singh-Sawyers, who captured 2/12 off 5 overs (3 maidens).
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI lost the toss and fielded on Alan Smith Oval, against top side Blackburn. It was a hot day (34C), and drinks breaks were scheduled for every 10 overs in the 30 overs per innings match. The first wicket fell on 17, bowled by Lecia Baldry. Then Blackburn lost further wickets, being 2/38 (bowled by Avanthi Jayawickrema), then 3/43 & 4/46 in the 15th over. Sarah Gibbs, who captured the latter two wickets, had figures of 2/3 off 3 overs at that stage. Kilsyth Captain Ashleigh Katoa caught the fourth wicket after a brilliant overhead catch at full stretch. Opener Bella Fox and Elodie Willis then consolidated the situation for Blackburn adding 51 for the fifth wicket, before Willis was out for 12 to another good catch by Ashleigh Katoa off the bowling of Lecia Baldry. The last ball of the innings resulted in a runout, following an accurate throw from Avanthi Jayawickrema to Lecia Baldry at the bowler’s end. Thus, Blackburn posted 6/106cc off their allotted 30 overs, Bella Fox top scoring with a classy 46 not out off 83 balls (3 fours). Wicket takers for Kilsyth were Sarah Gibbs 2/9 off 5 overs (2 maidens), Lecia Baldry 2/12 off 6 overs (1 maiden), and Avanthi Jayawickrema 1/13 off 5 overs.
After the tea break, a solid opening partnership of 78 between Belinda Hutchings and Ashleigh Katoa came to an end when Hutchings was bowled by Amanda Geason for 31 off 72 balls (1 four) on the fourth ball of the 20th over. Ashleigh Katoa, who was on 31 not out at that stage, then went on to score a brilliant 49 not out off 60 balls (8 fours), after adding 21 for the second wicket with Hoang Huynh. So, Kilsyth won by 8 wickets after scoring 2/109 in 22.4 overs. Blackburn’s wicket takers were Mia Holland 1/21 off 5.4 overs, and Amanda Geason 1/26 off 5 overs. The win consolidated the Redbacks’ fourth place on the ladder.
