In Round 3, Kilsyth Cricket Club’s First, Second, Third and Fourth XI’s as well as the U16-3s and U12-3s, all started two-day matches whilst the Fifth XI, Women’s First XI, the U14-5s and the second U12-6 team played one-day games.
There were several highlights on the weekend, including Daniel Caton’s determined 138 not out off 202 balls for the Third XI, Anthony Cook’s brilliant 111 off 84 balls for the Fourth XI, and Will Beard scoring an attacking 102 retired not out off 79 balls for the U16s. There were also two century partnerships with Daniel Caton and Matt Harper (91), adding a record 179 in 39.2 overs for the Third XI’s fourth wicket. Anthony Cook, together with Greg Gommers (31), shared a second wicket stand of 115 in 20.3 overs for the Fourth XI, whilst Veteran Pat Moilanen passed the 7000 senior runs milestone whilst playing for the Fifth XI. Sarah Gibbs had the best bowling figures, taking 3/6 off five overs, for the Women’s First XI.
The Men’s First XI played away at East Ringwood in the Wilkins Cup competition. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. An opening partnership of 38 in 10.3 overs between Will Beard and Jack Childs got the Redbacks off to a reasonable start. Childs was the first wicket to fall, caught by Ryan Webster off the bowling of Luke Farry for 15 off 30 balls. Farry then took another wicket in the same over and suddenly Kilsyth were 2/38 after 11 overs. At drinks, the Redbacks were 2/52 off the first 20 overs. After the break, Will Beard was caught by Cian Dickinson, bowled Luke Farry for 26 off 73 balls, to see Kilsyth 3/57 from 23 overs. The scoring rate slowed as the Redbacks tried to consolidate the situation, but it became 4/68 when Mark Unternahrer was caught by Dickinson, bowled by Reagan Wilkins, for 19 off 69 balls. Then another wicket, caught by Matt Kershaw, bowled by Dickinson, and the Redbacks were in trouble at 5/69 after 36.5 overs. At tea, the score had progressed to 5/80 off 40 overs, with Pasan Ganegoda fighting hard on 12 not out off 46 balls.
In the first over after the tea break, the Redbacks lost another quick wicket, caught Josh Gray, bowled by Reagan Wilkins, to be 6/86 after 41 overs. This brought Sagar Ahir to the crease to join Ganegoda. These two steadied the innings before Ahir was out LBW for 18 off 26 balls. Kilsyth were now 7/123 after 50.2 overs. At the drinks break, the score had reached 7/163 off 60 overs with Ganegoda on 44 not out off 110 balls, and Umesh 20 not out off 29 balls. However, with the score on 179, Ganegoda, who had batted well, was bowled by Dickinson for 56 off 134 balls (seven fours). Shortly after, Umesh was caught by Brad Niemann off Nick Kearney’s bowling for 29 off 58 balls. Kilsyth were now 9/186 off 70.2 overs. However, a fighting unbroken last wicket partnership of 31 lifted the Redbacks’ score to 9/217cc off their allotted 80 overs. At stumps, Kamal Kuruppu finished with a valuable 19 not out off 44 balls, and Lahiru Randeepa seven not out.
The Second XI were at home against Wonga Park. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. After being 5/66, the Redbacks steadied to be 5/96 at the tea break. However, they were eventually dismissed for 138 off 60.2 overs. Kilsyth’s top scorers were Dylan Smith 35 off 82 balls (seven fours), Tim Asbury 23 off 75 balls, and Jake Powell 21 not out off 43 balls.
The Third XI played St Andrews at J.W. Manson Reserve, East Oval. After also winning the toss and batting, Kilsyth struggled early to be 3/36 from 14.5 overs. It was at this point that Matt Harper joined Daniel Caton, and they batted superbly at a good run rate to see Kilsyth reach 3/150 at the tea break after 40 overs. Caton was on 59* off 97 balls and Harper 54* off 72 balls. After the break, they took the score to 215, when Harper was unfortunately bowled for a splendid 91 off 117 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes.
At that stage Caton was on 83* off 137 balls and they had shared a Club record Third XI fourth wicket partnership of 179, beating the previous record of 126 set back in 1983/84 by Gary Dietachmayer and Kees Luyten. Later, Caton brought up his century with a nice cut shot to the boundary to reach 101* off 166 balls. Kilsyth were eventually dismissed for 282 off 77 overs with Daniel Caton unbeaten on a magnificent 138 not out off 202 balls, including 13 fours and one six. It was Caton’s ninth senior century for the Club, second only to Nigel Foden with 10 centuries. It is also interesting to note that the last time Daniel played for Kilsyth’s Third XI, it was against St Andrews in Round 3, 2023/24, when he also scored a century (101*).
The Fourth XI hosted Mooroolbark at Pinks Reserve. This two-day game was played at a fast pace. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Kilsyth lost their first wicket off the third ball of the match to be 1/2. However, a second wicket partnership of 115 between Greg Gommers and Anthony Cook saw the Redbacks recover to be 2/117 after 21 overs. Gommers had batted well for 31 off 57 balls. Cook went on to score 111 off 84 balls (18 fours and two sixes), his third senior century for the Club. Kilsyth were later dismissed for 180 in 35.2 overs. The multiple wicket takers for Mooroolbark were Justin BarrandIn, 4/48 off 8 overs, and Ethan Gray 2/3 off three overs. In reply, Mooroolbark were 2/166 at stumps. Opener Ric Jennings scored 74 off 95 balls (10 fours), and Captain Bryn Jones was not out on 60 off 74 balls (five fours and three sixes). For Kilsyth, Michael Sturt had 1/21 off seven overs, and Jordan Relf 1/28 off six overs.
The Fifth XI played Vermont at East Burwood Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat in a one-day fixture. The Redbacks posted a competitive 4/142cc off 36 overs. The chief run getters were Captain Shane Smith, 43 not out off 46 balls, Shaun Goodwin 36 off 63 balls (six fours), and Pat Moilanen 27 off 74 balls. Craig Gislingham took 3/12 off 7 overs, and Richard Bristow 1/11 off 5 overs. In reply, Vermont had an opening partnership of 105 between Quinn Doddrell, who was run out for 38, Ari Kella, who retired on 50 not out, and Will Taylor, who was 29 not out. With help from Captain Brad Taylor, 29 not out, Vermont chased down the target in 29 overs and finished on 1/147 to win comfortably.
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI were at home to Canterbury Second XI in B Grade. The Club also held a premiership reunion for five past premiership teams, so there was a good attendance of supporters on the day. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. After one over, the Redbacks had lost two wickets for zero runs, with Sophie Vlahos doing the damage for Canterbury. However, a third wicket partnership of 65 in 9.3 overs between Serena Gibbs and Rhiley Unternahrer retrieved the situation for Kilsyth. It was then that Unternahrer was bowled by Mia Roberts for a brisk 29 off 25 balls (6 fours). Rhiley’s sister Tegan then joined Gibbs, and they took the score to 90, when Gibbs was well caught by Melissa Hay at cover, her second catch for the day, off the bowling of Victoria Gonsalves. Gibbs had made a classical 46 off 42 balls, including eight fours.
At drinks, the score was 4/110 after 18 overs with Tegan Unternahrer 15* and Ashleigh Katoa 7*. After a fifth-wicket partnership of 50, Tegan was bowled by Holly Walsh for 28 off 44 balls, and the score was now 5/140 off 24.3 overs. On the first ball of the next over, Katoa was caught by Mia Roberts, bowled Annika Aiyer for 18 off 31 balls, and suddenly Kilsyth were 6/140 off 25.1 overs. A useful partnership of 35 between Sharon Sheals and Nisansala Hettiarachchi came to an end when Nisansala was bowled by Imogen Davison and Kilsyth were now 7/175 after 31.3overs. New recruit Monique Maassen then scored her first run for the Club before being caught, and Kilsyth were 8/176 off 33 overs. It was 9/192 after the first ball of the 35th and final over, but Kilsyth kept going. Eventually, they were all out for 207 after 40 overs when Sharon Sheals was run out by Melissa Hay attempting a quick single off the last ball of the innings. Sharon had scored a quick-fire 42 off 28 balls (seven fours). It was a record last wicket partnership of 15 off five balls between Lecia Baldry 4* and Sharon. It was also the second-highest score ever achieved by the Women’s team.
After the tea break, Lecia Baldry took a wicket in her first over (clean bowled), to have Canterbury 1/0. In the fourth over, Serena Gibbs picked up the second wicked wicket in her second over, and Canterbury were now 2/3 after 3.2 overs. After nine overs, Sarah Gibbs came on to bowl and took a wicket with her third ball (clean bowled), to see Canterbury slump to 3/22 off 9.3 overs. It was 4/24 after 12 overs when Sarah claimed another wicket in her next over, well caught by Lecia Baldry, low to the ground at short cover. Then Baldry took a brilliant one-handed catch at short midwicket to dismiss Mia Roberts for 12, giving Sarah Gibbs her third wicket. Canterbury were now 5/27 off 14.1 overs. The score had progressed to 5/43 after 18 overs. After drinks, Nisansala Hettiarachchi took her first wicket for the Club, clean bowling Holly Walsh for 14 off 27 balls, to see Canterbury 6/52 after 20.2 overs. Shortly after, with the score on 64, Serena Gibbs took a spectacular diving catch forward of point off the bowling of Rebecca Bartleman. Then, after the score had progressed to 90, the eighth wicket fell when Nisansala Hettiarachchi claimed her second wicket, caught behind by Sharon Sheals in the 27th over. Canterbury then batted it out and were 8/117cc after their allotted 36 overs. Sarah Gibbs was the outstanding bowler capturing 3/6 off five overs. Nisansala Hettiarachchi took 2/4 off three overs, Lecia Baldry 1/6 off seven overs, Rebecca Bartleman 1/11 off two overs, and Serena Gibbs 1/17 off six overs. Overall, it was a good win for the Kilsyth Women’s team.
On Saturday morning, the U16s played at home against Koonung Heights on Alan Smith Oval. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. Captain Will Beard and Rhys Keaney shared an excellent opening partnership of 85 in 11.2 overs when Kearney was out caught for 34 off 24 balls (5 fours and 1 six). Max Wills and Beard then added a further 71 runs before Wills was adjudged lbw for 25 off 29 balls (2 fours and 1 six). At that stage, Kilsyth were 2/156 off 20.4 overs with Beard on 87 not out off 65 balls. With the score on 171 after 23.1 overs, Will Beard, who was on 98, played a classic pull shot to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up a superb century and retire on 102 not out off 79 balls (12 fours and 1 six). After that, the third wicket fell on 217 from 31 overs when Luke Childs was dismissed for 17 off 31 balls (3 fours). From there, Kilsyth lost regular wickets to finish on 8/279cc off their allotted 50 overs with Adriaan Van Gent scoring 24 off 30 balls (4 fours), and Louis Potter 15 not out off 38 balls (1 four). The multiple wicket taker for Koonung Heights was Gunvansh Yadav, who took 3/33 off 7 overs (1 maiden), with five other bowlers taking one wicket each.
The U14s journeyed to Benson Oval, Eastfield Park to play the merged Forest Hill/Eastfield team. They won the toss, elected to bat, and totalled 2/145cc off their 25 overs. Opening batsman Yianni Ibrahim top scored with 30 retired not out off 25 balls, whilst fellow opener Jaxon Parish retired not out on 28 off 25 balls. Rivan Amin scored 17 off 24 balls, and Peter Falaras remained 17 not out off 23 balls. Kobi Scott was the sole wicket taker for Kilsyth with 1/8 off 2 overs. In reply, Kilsyth were 5/93cc off their 25 overs. Gabriel Donley retired not out on 14 off 25 balls and Zack Mellerick was 14 not out off 20 balls (1 four). For the combined team, Peter Falaras captured 1/1 off 2 overs (1 maiden), Tas Snow 1/5 off 2 overs, and Ben Helps 1/6 off 2 overs, and there were two run outs.
On Friday evening the Club’s U12-3 team played East Ringwood on Roy Baldwin Oval at Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. All Kilsyth’s 11 bowlers did well to restrict East Ringwood to 1/86 off 23 overs at the end of the first split. East Ringwood’s top scorers were Lincoln White, 25 retired not out off 40 balls (4 fours), and Harry Kent 19 not out off 38 balls (3 fours). Patrick Weitman was the sole wicket taker for Kilsyth with 2/15 off 2 overs. The Redbacks finished on 5/92 off 23 overs at the end of their first split. Zion Solomons scored 31 off 36 balls (3 fours), and Aiden Nicoll 29 retired not out off 40 balls (5 fours). East Ringwood’s Harry Kent bowled well to take 2/0 off 2 overs (2 maidens), whilst Mason Lawless captured 2/10 off 2 overs, and Lincoln White 1/11 off 2 overs. The match continues next Friday with both teams to bat their second split of 23 overs each.
Kilsyth’s U12-6 team played a one-day T20 game against Heatherdale at Heatherdale Reserve, Number 3 Oval. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat, compiling 4/84cc off their allotted 20 overs. The top scorers were Amarvir Singh Bhatti, 16 not out off 28 balls (2 fours), Cooper Clark 14 retired not out off 15 balls (3 fours), and opener Jaxon Brodie 13 off 27 balls (2 fours). The best of Heatherdale’s bowlers were Chloe Bryant, 1/2 off 2 overs, Andreas Pavlou 3 overs 1/6 (1 maiden), and Sidhi Budhiraja 1/7 off 2 overs. In reply, Heatherdale batted well to finish on 1/94 off their 20 overs with Preetika Ahuja scoring 20 retired not out off 15 balls (4 fours), and Andreas Pavlou 15 retired not out off 15 balls (1 four). Wesley Bowman was the sole wicket taker for Kilsyth with 1/23 off 3 overs.
