It was a round of mixed results for Kilsyth Cricket Club on the weekend, with victories being recorded by the men’s First and Fourth XI’s whilst the other men’s teams went down narrowly. The Juniors also had some exciting finishes, including a tie in the Under 14s. Captain Coach Andy Solomons again starred for the First XI following last week’s century with a sizzling 84 off 59 balls. An opening partnership of 117 between Fourth XI co-captain Greg Gommers 78*, and Tyron Paspa 44, was another highlight. The Second XI’s Ryan Tooth took the men’s senior bowling honours with 3/29 off four overs. For the women’s team, Lecia Baldry took 3/30, including a hat-trick. Serena Gibbs did well to score 35 in her first innings for the Club, as well as taking 2/22 with the ball. Her sister Stephanie top-scored with a promising 40 not out, her highest score for the Club.
The First XI played Wonga Park at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve in a 40-over per side one-day match in the RDCA’s Wilkins Cup, Premier 1 competition. Wonga Park won the toss and elected to bat. Veteran Mark Unternahrer was brought into the Kilsyth side at the last moment due to the withdrawal of injured opening bowler Kamal Kuruppu. Andy Solomons and new recruit, Isuru Umesh, opened the bowling with Umesh switching ends after his first over and taking his first wicket for Kilsyth in his fourth over, clean bowling Jackson Ford for 26 off 32 balls, with the score now 1/40 after 8.4 overs. It was an important wicket as Ford had made 86 in round one. At the drinks break after 20 overs, Wonga Park were 1/79 with opener Ben Thompson on 28 and Thomas Hancock 15*. After drinks, the second wicket fell with the score on 89 in the 22nd over, when Hancock was caught behind by Will Beard off the bowling of Unternahrer for 19 off 39 balls. Spinner Mackenzie Scott-Thomas was reintroduced into the attack, and with the first ball of his second over in the new spell, had Ben Thompson well caught at long-on by Dylan Smith. Thompson had batted well for 41 off 71 balls, and Wonga were now 3/99 off 24.1 overs. A good partnership of 74 between Benjamin Mathews and Toby Ford took the score to 173 when Ford was adjudged lbw for 24 off 32 balls, off the bowling of Umesh in the 36th over. Then Solomons bowled Joshua White for 14 on the last ball of the 39th over. White had faced 11 balls and hit one six. With one over remaining, Wonga were 5/208 and finished on 5/219cc, with Captain Ben Mathews 75 not out off 56 balls. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were First XI debutant Umesh, 2/37 off 7 overs, Unternahrer 1/31 off eight overs, Scott-Thomas 1/36 off eight overs, and Solomons 1/29 off five overs.
Young openers Will Beard and Jack Childs steadily set about the run chase and shared an opening partnership of 62 in 14.3 overs before Beard was caught by Ben White off the bowling of Joshua White for a well-made 30 off 46 balls. This brought captain-coach Andy Solomons to the crease, and he continued on with his fine form from round one. Solomons and Childs added another 26 runs before Childs was caught by Daniel Keane, bowled by Andy Reynolds, for a fine 34 off 55 balls. Kilsyth were now 2/88 after 18.2 overs with Solomons 17 not out off 13 balls. The experienced Mark Unternahrer and Solomons then kept the scoreboard ticking and at the halfway drinks break, Kilsyth were 2/96 after 20 overs. The run rate continued to accelerate with good batting, and eventually, they put on 104 for the third wicket, when Solomons skied an attempted big hit to be caught by Thomas Hancock off the bowling of Joshua White for a superb 84 off 59 balls (seven fours and six sixes), to set the game up for Kilsyth. The Redbacks were now 3/192 off 32.2 overs with victory within sight. Congratulations to Andy Solomons, who passed 1000 senior runs for the Club during this innings. Unternahrer was the fourth wicket to fall with the score on 208 after 35.1 overs, stumped Jackson Ford, bowled Thomas Hancock for a fighting 35 off 40 balls. Mackenzie Scott-Thomas then joined the classy Panegoda, who cracked two fours during the rest of this over to win the game for Kilsyth. So, Kilsyth finished on 4/221 off 35.5 overs to record another excellent win, with Panegoda 18 not out off 14 balls, and Scott-Thomas three not out. For Wonga Park, Joshua White finished with 2/52 off eight overs, Lachan White 1/25 off five overs, and Thomas Hancock 1/47 off 7.5 overs.
The Second XI played against Lilydale at Lilydale Recreation Reserve in the Meehan Shield (Premier 1 Section). The Redbacks won the toss and elected to bowl. However, an opening partnership of 109 between Elijah Prentice, 70 off 87 balls, and Cameron Thompson, 34 off 76 balls, got Lilydale off to a great start. Kilsyth did well from there to restrict the Falcons to 7/190cc off 40 overs with Luke Hands scoring 29. The best of Kilsyth’s bowlers were Ryan Tooth, 3/29 off four overs, spinner Justin Smith 2/38 off eight overs, and opening bowler Max Wills, 1/26 off eight overs. In reply, Kilsyth just fell short by 10 runs, scoring 5/180cc off their 40 overs. The chief run getters were Max Wills, 58* off 75 balls, Daniel Caton 47 off 58 balls, Sanjeev Rana 32 off 48 balls, and Tim Asbury 16* off 16 balls. The multiple wicket taker for Lilydale was Rhys Allen with 2/32 off eight overs.
The Third XI were at home on Roy Baldwin Oval against Warrandyte in the Don Smith Shield (Premier 2 Section). Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. After an opening partnership of 40 in 7.3 overs between Ben Nicoll and Robert Hutchings, Kilsyth lost three quick wickets to be 3/45 after 9.5 overs, with Nicoll scoring 31 off 32 balls, and Ross Damico taking all three wickets. Kilsyth then lost another wicket to be 4/59 off 14.3 overs. The score progressed to 4/69 off 20 overs at the drinks break, with father-son combination Matt and Tait Harper at the crease. The fifth wicket to fall was Matt Harper, who had batted brilliantly to score 52 off 49 balls, including 18 off one over. So, Kilsyth were now 5/105 off 24.3 overs. The Redbacks battled on and were eventually all out for 168 in 38.5 overs, with the injured Kamal Kuruppu 13 not out off 17 balls. Warrandyte’s multiple wicket takers were Ross Damico, 3/22 off six overs, Captain Bailey Bowyer 2/33 off 6.5 overs, and Josh Huntly 2/37 off five overs.
After the tea break, Kilsyth’s opening bowler Matthew Burgess struck early with two wickets in his second over to have Warrandyte 2/13 in the third over. Then, in the 15th over Kamal Kuruppu, who was playing with an injury, took the third wicket, and Warrandyte were 3/63. Warrandyte batted steadily, losing their fourth wicket on 97 and fifth on 125 before finishing on 5/172 after 36.4 overs to win the match with 3.2 overs to spare. Top scorers for the Bloods were Mason Trevena, 47 off seven balls, Archie Andrew 34* off 47 balls, Adam White 26* off 28 balls, and Brad Valentine 25 off 26 balls. For Kilsyth, Matthew Burgess captured 2/33 off eight overs, Kamal Kuruppi 1/17 off eight overs, and Matt Harper 1/26 off four overs. Congratulations to Himeth Kuruppu, who played his first game for the Club.
The Fourth XI travelled to Coldstream Recreation Reserve to play Coldstream Second XI in the District 1 B Grade competition. Coldstream won the toss and elected to bat. After an opening partnership of 73, they compiled 5/168cc off their allotted 36 overs. Coldstream’s opening batsman and captain, Ian Thompson, top scored with 61 off 102 balls and was well supported by Scott Adams, 41* off 43 balls. Kilsyth’s co-captain Greg Gommers was the best of the bowlers with 2/17 off five overs, while the other wicket takers were Jordan Relf, 1/24 off six overs, and Tegan Unternahrer 1/22 off two overs. A first wicket partnership of 117 between Tyron Paspa, 44 off 87 balls, and Greg Gommers, who finished on 78* off 87, set up the victory for the Redbacks. The match ended with Kilsyth on 3/169 after 32.4 overs to record a comfortable win. Coldstream’s wicket takers were Daniel Fritsch with 2/24 off 6 overs, and Shane Randall 1/23 off 4 overs.
The Fifth XI played Wantirna South Fourth XI at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve, which, like Pinks Reserve, has a new electronic scoreboard installed. Wantirna South won the toss and elected to bowl. Kilsyth lost wickets steadily to be 6/115 but from there the Redbacks’ batsmen got on top. Trent Potter finished on 57 not out off 37 balls (12 fours), whilst Brian Matanisiga scored 53 retired not out off 39 balls (7 fours and 3 sixes), helping to lift Kilsyth’s score to an imposing 8/248cc off 36 overs. Others to do well with the bat were Shaun Goodwin, 26 off 29 balls (5 fours), Ashleigh Katoa 21 off 29 balls (3 fours), and Pat Moilanen 18 off 33 balls (2 fours). Wantirna South’s chief wicket takers were Pratik Patel, 3/34 off 6 overs (1 maiden), and Jasper Talbot 2/40 off 7 overs. Like Kilsyth’s Fourth XI match, Wantirna South also had an opening partnership of 73, with both opening batsmen scoring half centuries before retiring not out: Ryan Lee 50* off 56 balls (9 fours), and Jye Hunter 51* off 16 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes). Pratik Patel also made 50 retired not out after facing 59 balls (7 fours), and Jasper Talbot was 26 not out off 17 balls (4 fours), to enable Wantirna South to reach 5/249 off 34.1 overs and achieve victory. The main wicket taker for Kilsyth was Louis Potter with 3/64 off 7 overs. The match was certainly a run feast with 497 runs being scored off 70.1 overs!
On Sunday, Kilsyth Women’s First XI played Montrose at Montrose Recreation Reserve. Montrose won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions. A bright opening partnership of 46 in 9.5 overs was broken when Tammy Pearce was caught by Monique Maassen off the bowling of Captain Ashleigh Katoa for 10 off 25 balls. The second wicket fell in the next over when Charlotte Stevens was caught and bowled by Rhiley Unternahrer for four and Montrose were now 2/59 off 11 overs. It was 3/69 after 13 overs when Tegan Unternahrer trapped Belinda Harding lbw for an attacking 53 off 42 balls. At the drinks break, Montrose were 3/100 after 18 overs. In the 34th over, the fourth and fifth wickets both fell with the score on 197 and both batters were bowled by Lecia Baldry with the last two balls of her sixth over, including Grace Pearce, who had batted well for 45 off 44 balls. In the next over, captain Kaitlyn Kile was caught by Lecia Baldry, bowled Serena Gibbs for 54 off 68 balls, and then another wicket, caught and bowled by Serena Gibbs, to see Montrose now 7/198. The 36th and last over was bowled by Lecia Baldry, who claimed another wicket, clean bowled, with her first ball of the over, to complete a hat-trick! It was Lecia’s second hat-trick for the Club, the first being taken in the 2012/13 Fourth XI Men’s Grand Final. Thus, Montrose finished on 8/199cc off their allotted 36 overs. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Lecia Baldry 3/30 off seven overs, Serena Gibbs 2/22 off four overs, Ashleigh Katoa 1/10 off six overs, Rhiley Unternahrer 1/33 off five overs, and Tegan Unternahrer 1/26 off six overs.
In the run chase, Kilsyth were 0/7 off 1.3 overs when rain stopped play. Upon the resumption, the Redbacks lost three quick wickets to be 3/48 off 9.4 overs. Then, on the last ball of the 14th over, opener Serena Gibbs, batting for the Club for the first time, was caught by Kaitlyn Kile off the bowling of Alicia Gugele for a well-made 35 off 48 balls, and Kilsyth were now 4/70. At drinks after 18 overs, the Redbacks were 4/83. The fifth wicket fell on 84 after 19.2 overs when Riley Unternahrer was bowled by Tammy Pearce for 16 off 33 balls. It was soon 6/96 off 21.5 overs when Tammy Pearce took the next wicket, caught by Kaitlyn Kile. From there, Kilsyth batted it out, finishing on 6/159cc. Stephanie Gibbs top scored with 40 not out off 57 balls, whilst Nicole Woolhouse was 17 not out off 41 balls. The multiple wicket takers for Montrose were Tammy Pearce, who captured 2/17 off 7 overs, and Alicia Gugele 2/23 off 4 overs.
The Under 12’s started off the season on Friday evening with an exciting match against Chirnside Park at Kiloran Park North Oval. The result went down to the wire and wasn’t decided until the second last ball! Chirnside won the toss and elected to bowl, with Kilsyth scoring 4/90cc off their allotted 23 overs. Kilsyth’s top scorers were Aiden Nicoll, 17 retired not out off 20 balls, and Zion Solomons 15 off 16 balls. At one stage, Chirnside Park were 3/60 in reply, but then, Kilsyth fought back with wickets falling regularly to see the Panthers on 9/86. With two balls remaining in the match, the score had progressed 9/88, and Chirnside needed three runs to win and two to tie. However, Kilsyth’s Aiden Nicoll then became his team’s hero by capturing the last wicket (clean bowled), to see the Redbacks win by two runs in a thrilling finish! Zion Solomons took the bowling honours with 3/5 off 3 overs, and Ryder Pahi captured 2/10 off his 2 overs. Single wicket takers were Tate Lindsay, 1/3 off 2 overs, Isaac Joy 1/11 off 2 overs, and Aiden Nicoll 1/16 off 2.5 overs. Chirnside’s Pavan Santhosh Kkumar was the only batsman to reach double figures, scoring 25 off 17 balls.
On Saturday morning the Under 14s played Lilydale at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. This game was also a thriller! Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. Lilydale compiled a competitive 4/113cc off their 25 overs. Their two standout batsmen were Kasey Loftus, 29 not out off 20 balls (4 fours), and Jacob Attrill 20 retired not out off 25 balls (2 fours). Kilsyth used 13 bowlers with the wicket takers being Zack Mellerick, 2/10 off 2 overs, Aiden Nicoll 1/3 off 2 overs, and Angus Bright 1/8 off 2 overs. In reply, Kilsyth batted well and the scores were level with one ball remaining! However, a runout off the last ball saw the match end in a tie with Kilsyth also finishing on 4/113cc. Chief run getters for Kilsyth were U12 player Zion Solomons, 24 retired not out off 25 balls (3 fours), Tyler Paarman 23 retired not out off 25 balls (4 fours), and Zack Mellerick 16 retired not out off 25 balls (2 fours). For Lilydale, Thomas Morrison took 1/5 off 2 overs, Eric Moody 1/10 off 2 overs, and Jacob Attrill 1/15 off 3 overs.
The Under 16’s played an away game against Boronia Hawks with the Redbacks winning the toss and electing to bowl. The Hawks were dismissed for 87 off the last ball of the 25th over with Hayden Monds taking 3/11 off 4 overs (2 maidens), and Luke Childs 2/9 off 2 overs. Kilsyth’s single wicket takers were Louis Potter 1/5, Joshua Dousset 1/6, Tate Harper 1/10, and Rhys Kearney 1/14. Top scorer for Boronia was Ryder Kiss with 21 off 38 balls, including 3 fours. In reply, Kilsyth got off to a disastrous start and were 4/13. The team never recovered, being all out for 61 in 20 overs. Adrian Van Gent was the top scorer with 16 before being unfortunately run out. Multiple wicket takers for Boronia were Mason Cullen, 4/11 off 4 overs (1 maiden), and Marley Turner 2/2 off 2 overs.
