By Les Hutchings
Kilsyth Cricket Club recently held its vote count for the Club’s Best and Fairest Awards for both the Women’s and Men’s Teams.
In every home and away match, the best three players in each grade are awarded 3, 2 and 1 votes, respectively by three separate people, including the umpire/s and opposition Captain. So, a player can earn a maximum of 9 votes in any particular round. After an exciting vote count, the top three place-getters for both the women and men were as follows:
WOMEN’S BEST AND FAIREST
• First Place: Ashleigh Katoa 63 votes
• Second Place: Avanthi Jayawickrema 35 votes
• Third Place: Belinda Hutchings 29 votes
MEN’S BEST AND FAIREST – THE ANDREWARTHA MEDAL
• First Place: Andy Solomons 66 votes
• Second Place: Anthony Cook 52 votes
• Third Place: Rhys McKean 50 votes
The Awards will be presented at the Club’s Senior Presentation Night to be held on Saturday 26 April at Club Kilsyth.
Kilsyth Women’s First XI Captain Ashleigh Katoa had an outstanding season, leading her team to the C Grade premiership, resulting in back-to-back flags for the women. In the home and away season, Ashleigh scored 373 runs at an average of 93.25 from 9 innings. Her highest score was 103 retired not out (13 fours and 3 sixes) with an impressive strike rate of 133.8. Additionally, she scored 38 in the semi-final (run out off the last ball of Kilsyth’s innings) and 73 (10 fours and 2 sixes) in the Grand Final to give her a total of 484 runs at 80.67 for the season. Ashleigh is also a handy bowler, taking 6 wickets in the home and away season (best bowling 2/10), and 1/14 off 4 overs in the Semi-Final. Furthermore, her baseball background makes Ashleigh an excellent fielder with a strong throwing arm, resulting in 2 run-outs and 7 catches during the season. Following her excellent season, Ashleigh has been selected in the Cook Islands International Women’s Squad of 14, who will be playing in the Bali Bash T20 Tournament in April. Cook Islands will be competing in the T20 series against Indonesia, the Philippines and the Australian Indian Women’s Cricket Association XI. Consequently, Ashleigh is set to become Kilsyth Cricket Club’s first ever international women’s player, which would be something everyone at the Club will be very proud of.
As mentioned above, Andy Solomons won the Men’s Best and Fairest Award. A fully fledged all-rounder, Andy also had a wonderful season in the RDCA’s top grade, the Trollope Shield. As an attacking number 3 batsman, Andy scored 543 runs at an average of 38.79, including 5 half centuries and a highest score of 85 when he had a strike rate off 144.1. As a medium fast bowler, he also captured 23 wickets at 17.48, with best figures of 5/26 against Ainslie Park. Although not included in the Club’s Best and Fairest Award, Andy was also instrumental in getting Kilsyth into the semi-final out of RDCA’s T20 Tournament in which 44 clubs competed. With the bat, Andy scored 328 runs at 46.86 with a highest score of 85 when he had a strike rate off 223.7. With the ball, he captured 13 wickets at 11.15, including a haul of 6/25 against Seville.
Both Ashleigh and Andy will captain the Women’s and Men’s First XIs next season and the club look forward to seeing what they and their respective teams can accomplish.
