Last Saturday, three of Kilsyth Cricket Club’s men’s senior teams commenced two-day matches, while the Third XI, the U14s and U16s were washed out, and the Fifth XI won on forfeit. The Women’s First XI won a one-day match on Sunday after an unbroken opening partnership of 155 in 22 overs between Ashleigh Katoa and Serena Gibbs. Another highlight was Men’s First XI opening bowler, Isuru Umesh, capturing 5/44 against Heatherdale after bowling 16.5 overs straight. It was his second five-wicket haul in consecutive matches. The Fourth XI’s Brodie Goodwin also got amongst the wickets, taking 5/47. Additionally, the Club celebrated two milestones with the First XI’s Will Beard playing his 50th senior game, and Anthony Cook playing his 150th senior game in the Fourth XI’s match.
The First XI commenced an away match against Heatherdale in the Wilkins Cup competition. It was an historic day, being the first time the two Men’s First XIs had ever played against each other. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions with a slow outfield, due to overnight and morning rain. However, after four balls, Kilsyth were 1/0 when Heatherdale’s opening bowler Harry Box broke through, shattering the stumps. Then, three more wickets fell at 2/8, 3/14 and 4/28. Drinks were taken after 14 overs with the score on 4/40. After drinks, the wickets kept tumbling: 5/50, 6/52, 7/60, 8/69, 9/71, and then on the last ball before the scheduled tea break, all out for 80 off 29 overs of pace bowling. Opener Jack Childs was the only batsman to reach double figures with 27 off 55 balls (two fours). Bryce Cosham took the bowling honours for Heatherdale with 5/22 off six overs, and was well supported by Alex Bell, 2/16 off eight overs (two maidens), Ben Joseph 1/6 off six overs (one maiden), Harry Box 1/13 off five overs (one maiden), and Jack Peters 1/23 off four overs.
After the tea break, Heatherdale lost their first wicket in the seventh over with the score on eight, caught behind by ’keeper Will Beard off the bowling of Isuru Umesh. It was 2/31 after 10.2 overs when Umesh bowled opener Matthew Stewart for 22 off 29 balls (two fours). By that stage, Kilsyth had dropped three catches, including Stewart twice. Then a procession of wickets: 3/35, 4/35, 5/36, 6/39 and 7/48 after 22 overs. Kilsyth had bounced back into the game with both opening bowlers, Isuru Umesh and Nuwan Sampath, taking four wickets and three wickets, respectively. When drinks were taken after 26 overs, it was 8/66 and Andy Solomons had just taken a wicket (clean bowled) in his first over. When Solomons took another wicket in his second over (also bowled), the score was 9/72 with Heatherdale still eight runs behind with only one wicket in hand. Ben Cosham was doing the scoring for Heatherdale and when the scores levelled on 80, last man in Alex Bell was dropped in the slips off the bowling of Isuru Umesh, which would have tied the first innings scores. Bell then managed to survive the last four balls of the over. In the next over, a bye gave Heatherdale the lead by one run. Then in the following over Ben Cosham opened his shoulders, hitting a four and a six before being caught behind off Umesh for a match-winning 33 off 42 balls (three fours and one six). In the end, Heatherdale were all out 91 off 32.5 overs, leaving Kilsyth to ponder over the six chances that were put down in the field. For Kilsyth, Isuru Umesh finished with 5/44 off 16.5 overs (five maidens), Nuwan Sampath 3/34 off 12 overs (four maidens), and Andy Solomons 2/11 off four overs (one maiden).
At 6.10pm Kilsyth commenced their second innings with 18 overs still to be bowled. When stumps were drawn at 7.04pm, the Redbacks were 3/20 off 13 overs. Pace bowler Harry Box had taken 2/13 off seven overs (three maidens), and spinner Mitchell Barr had bowled a wicket maiden.
The Second XI played at home against second-placed Lilydale on Alan Smith Oval at Pinks Reserve. Lilydale won the toss and elected to bowl. After a promising opening partnership of 28 in 10.1 overs between Sanjeev Rana and Rhys Kearney, Rana was dismissed for 19 off 27 balls (three fours). The second wicket to fall was an unfortunate run out, and the Redbacks were now 2/36 in the 16th over. When Mark Unternahrer was caught and bowled by Ben Spencer for 19 off 47 balls (three fours), Kilsyth were 3/70 after 31.3 overs. Then, with the score on 102 in the 48th over, Tim Asbury was caught by Connor Smith, bowled by Elijah Prentice for 11 off 50 balls (one four and one six). From there, Kilsyth lost regular wickets, including three wickets in the 58th over that was bowled by Rhys Allen. At that point, Kilsyth declared on 9/123. Rhys Kearney was the top scorer for Kilsyth with a determined 47 off 175 balls (four fours). Lilydale’s wicket takers were Rhys Allen, 3/24 off 10.5 overs (two maidens), Elijah Prentice 2/13 off six overs (three maidens), Karan Singh 2/24 off 14 overs (five maidens), and Luke Spencer 1/22 off 12 overs (three maidens). At stumps on Day One, Lilydale were 2/60 off 22 overs with Braeden Anthony 30* (six fours), and Kalen Tahirovski 11* (one four). Kilsyth’s Tim Asbury had taken 1/13 off four overs (one maiden), and Justin Smith 1/14 off five overs.
Due to the state of the ground, there was no play on the first day of the Third XI’s match against the undefeated, top of the ladder Warrandyte at Stintons Reserve, Park Orchards. Thus, the match becomes a one-dayer next week.
The Fourth XI played a split-innings two-day match against Coldstream Second XI on Roy Baldwin Oval at Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss, elected to bat and produced a similar score to the Second XI. The Redbacks lost two quick wickets to be 2/8 after 1.5 overs. Both wickets fell to Daniel Fritsch (LBW and bowled). Then Shaun Goodwin and Geoff Kennedy took the score to 45 when Goodwin was bowled by Ian Thompson in the eighth over for a rapid 24 off 20 balls (six fours). It was soon 4/46 when Connor Ewan picked up another wicket (clean bowled). From there, a 59-run partnership between Geoff Kennedy and Joshua Bock consolidated the innings but unfortunately ended when Bock was run out for 26 off 72 balls (five fours), after a throw from Leam Doughty to Steven Radmanic. At that point, the score was 5/105 after 30.1 overs, but then Kilsyth lost a clump of wickets: 6/113, 7/113, 8/116, and 9/116 before finishing on 9/127 after the first split of 36 overs, with Michael Panozzo on 13* (three fours). Geoff Kennedy was the best of Kilsyth’s batsmen with 45 off 80 balls (six fours). Coldstream’s wicket takers were Scott Adams, 4/21 off six overs (one maiden), Daniel Fritsch 2/38 off six overs, Connor Ewan 1/5 off six overs (one maiden), and Captain Ian Thompson 1/21 off six overs (two maidens). In reply, Coldstream had a day out with the bat, compiling 7/291 off 36 overs. This included a mammoth second wicket partnership of 235 between Leam Doughty and Ian Thompson. Doughty scored a brilliant 173 off 95 balls, including 17 fours and 12 sixes, whilst Thompson hit 62 off 76 balls (seven fours). Despite the onslaught, Kilsyth’s Brodie Goodwin did well to capture 5/47 off eight overs. Jordan Relf was the other wicket taker with 2/61.
The Fifth XI won their match against Wantirna South Fourth XI, who unfortunately had to forfeit the game.
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI played St Andrews on Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. After losing the previous two games, Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. The start of the match was delayed for half an hour due to the rain and commenced at 1.30pm with the 36 overs per side game reduced to 32 overs each. At 1.55pm the match was again stopped due to rain and at that stage Kilsyth were 0/34 off 6.2 overs. When play resumed at 2.23 pm, the game had been further reduced to 28 overs per team. The century opening partnership between the new opening pair of Captain Ashleigh Katoa and Serena Gibbs came up in the 15th over. The game was again stopped at 3.26pm after 21.2 overs due to the rain, and afternoon tea was taken with Kilsyth on 0/152. The umpire made the decision to complete the 22nd over after tea and then end Kilsyth’s innings due to the loss of time and the possibility of further rain. Thus, Kilsyth finished on 0/155cc after 22 overs with Ashleigh Katoa 74 not out off 68 balls (10 fours), and Serena Gibbs 66 not out off 61 balls (nine fours). Their magnificent unbroken opening partnership was the second highest in Club history for the Women’s first wicket.
In reply, St Andrews were all out for 53 in 21.5 overs with opener Andrea Cummings top scoring with 17 off 39 balls. For Kilsyth, Lecia Baldry took 3/7 off 3.5 overs (two maidens), including two wickets with consecutive balls, Stephanie Gibbs 2/1 off three overs (two maidens), Sarah Gibbs 1/8 off three overs, and Nisansala Hettiarachchi 1/1 off two overs (one maiden). There were also three run outs achieved by Lecia Baldry to ’keeper Ashleigh Katoa, Monique Maassen to bowler Lecia Baldry, and a direct hit by Hoang “Shorty” Huynh. Rhiley Unternahrer took a stunning, diving catch in the gully, Lecia Baldry a nice catch at point, and Serena Gibbs took a good catch behind the stumps after taking over as wicket keeper from Ashleigh Katoa, who bowled two overs 0/3.
The RDCA cancelled all Saturday morning junior matches (Under 14s and Under 16s) due to the rain and condition of many grounds.
On Friday evening, the second-placed Under 12-3 team played against Chirnside Park (fifth) on Roy Baldwin Oval at Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. At the end of the first split of 23 overs, Chirnside Park were 6/94cc. Opening batsman Pavan Santhosh Kumar scored 37 retired not out off 40 balls (one four), and Nate Marshall 15 off 37 balls (one four). For Kilsyth, Aiden Nicoll took 2/8 off three overs (one maiden), Zion Solomons 2/10 off three overs, Bailey Kennon 1/7 off two overs, and Brock Davis 1/10 off two overs. Kilsyth lost a wicket on the first ball of their innings but after that, Zion Solomons and Tate Lindsay shared an unbroken partnership of 60 before Solomons retired on 32* off 40 balls (five fours). Then, after 14 overs, Tate Lindsay retired on 11* off 40 balls (one four), and the score was now 1/60. By stumps after 23 overs, Kilsyth were 2/98 with Isaac Joy 10* off 32 balls (one four), and Lorenzo Belousoff 5* off 10 balls (one four). The wicket takers for Chirnside Park were Flynn Robinson 1/10 off two overs, and Jai Rochford 1/9 off two overs. Kilsyth will bat first next Friday.
The Under 12-6 team (fourth on the ladder) played Templeton (seventh) at Schultz Reserve, Wantirna. Templeton won the toss and elected to bat. However, they lost regular wickets and were 8/35 (all out) off 13.5 overs. For Kilsyth, Dylan Ekanayake took 2/1 off two overs (one maiden), Cooper Clark 2/2 off two overs, Wesley Bowman 1/3 off two overs, and there were three run outs. In reply, Kilsyth passed Templeton’s score in 13.2 overs for the loss of two wickets. The Redbacks then continued batting and at stumps were 3/63cc off 23 overs. Callan Addison top-scored with 11* off 18 balls (one four), whilst for Templeton, Caleb Robertson took 1/3 off three overs (one maiden), Aarav Manjeshwar 1/8 off three overs (one maiden), and Ramaya Patel 1/8 off three overs.
