Kilsyth Cricket Club’s senior teams all played one-day matches on the weekend. Playing for the Third XI, Mark Unternahrer scored his third consecutive century, the first time this feat has been achieved at Kilsyth CC. “Unters” scored 103 not out off 114 balls, including 18 boundaries against Hoddles Creek First XI. It was his tenth senior century for Kilsyth CC, equalling the Club record of most centuries with Nigel Foden and Daniel Caton. Isuru Umesh continued his good form taking 5/32 for the First XI and there were four half-centuries scored: Kolitha Hapuarachchi 63 (First XI), Daniel Caton 67* (Second XI), Tyron Paspa 65 (Fourth XI) and Shane Smith 52 (Fifth XI). Additionally, the following senior game milestones were celebrated: Mackenzie Scott-Thomas 100 games (including 50 First XI games), Brodie Goodwin, Jordan Relf and Matthew Smith, 50 games each.
The First XI played away against Wantirna South at Walker Reserve in a one-day Wilkins Cup match. Wantirna South won the toss and elected to bat but lost early wickets to be 1/2, 2/17, 3/30, 4/41 and 5/46 off 12.2 overs with Kilsyth’s opening bowlers Isuru Umesh and Nuwan Sampath capturing three and two wickets respectively. It became 6/74 when Sampath picked up his third wicket in the 19 th over with Kilsyth well on top. However, a seventh wicket partnership of 41 between Captain Tristan Webb and Travis Clarke lifted the score to 7/115 off 30.3 overs. Webb was the batsman out for 35 off 59 balls (2 fours), caught by Isuru Umesh at cover off the bowling off Dylan Smith. When Isuru Umesh came back on to bowl, he immediately picked up his fourth and fifth wickets and Wantirna South slumped to 9/134 off 34.5 overs. However, Kilsyth couldn’t finish off the innings and an unbroken last wicket partnership of 28 between Travis Clarke and Bailey Lubin took the score to 9/162cc off the allotted 40 overs. Clarke finished on 34* off 59 balls (2 fours) and Lubin 13* off 18 balls. The other batsmen to reach double figures were Paul Henry 14 (1 four and 1 six), Scott Charles 15 (1 four), and Rashmika Hiripitiya 17 (2 fours). For Kilsyth, Isuru Umesh took 5/32 off 7 overs, Nuwan Sampath 3/30 off 8 overs (1 maiden), and Dylan Smith 1/23 off 5 overs. In the field, Isuru Umesh took two good catches.
Kilsyth opened their innings with Captain Andy Solomons and Jack Childs. In the second over, Solomons hit two towering sixes and looked in ominous form. However, in the same over, the fifth ball flicked his thigh pad and nicked/dislodged the bail on the way through to the ‘keeper and Solomons was out bowled for 14 off 7 balls with Kilsyth now 1/15. The second wicket fell on 31 after 4.2 overs when Mackenzie Scott-Thomas was bowled by Tristan Webb for 13 off 8 balls (1 four and 1 six). Kolitha Hapuarachchi and Jack Childs consolidated the situation until Childs was bowled by Caleb Webb for 11 off 46 balls, with the score now 3/65 after 15.3 overs. At the drinks break after 20 overs, Kilsyth had reached 3/91 with Kolitha Hapuarachchi on 36* and the Redbacks seemed to have the match under control, needing 72 off the last 20 overs with 7 wickets in hand. The first over after drinks was a maiden and then Drew McKay achieved the breakthrough in the next over, bowling Pasan Ganegoda for 13 off 27 balls (2 fours). Kilsyth were now 4/92 and then lost two more wickets to pace bowlers Tristan Webb and Travis Clarke to be 5/99 and then 6/103 after 27.2 overs. Hapuarachchi and Sanjeev Rana then took the score to 6/142 off 32 overs with 21 runs needed off 8 overs to win with four wickets in hand. It was then that the Redbacks lost two wickets in Travis Clarke’s next over to be 8/146 after 33 overs. The first of the two batsmen out was Kolitha Hapuarachchi, caught and bowled by Clarke for 63 off 70 balls (8 fours and 1 six). He had batted superbly, holding the innings together. The fourth ball of the next over resulted in a run out after confusion between the batsmen over whether to take the second run and Kilsyth were now 9/149 after 34 overs. The end came quickly in Clarke’s next over when Sanjeev Rana, who had batted well, was caught by Scott Charles for 20 off 25 balls (3 fours). It was a disappointing result for Kilsyth’s First XI in terms of the season’s prospects. For Wantirna South, Travis Clarke took 4/26 off 6.4 overs, Tristan Webb 2/34 off 8 overs, Drew McKay 1/14 off 8 overs (1 maiden), Caleb Webb 1/32 off 4 overs, and Bailey Lubin 1/44 off 8 overs (2 maidens).
The Second XI played Eastfield First XI at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve in the Meehan Shield competition. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat but were soon in trouble on 2/10 after 4.4 overs with opening bowler Cody Andrews claiming both wickets. A promising third wicket partnership of 40 between Kyan Harper and Acting Captain Daniel Caton came to an end when Harper was caught off the bowling of Ben Taylor for 16 off 41 balls (1 four). Kilsyth were now 3/50 off 16.5 overs and in the next over lost another wicket to be 4/51. It was 5/70 when Matt Harper was dismissed for 17 off 10 balls (2 fours), and soon 6/72 and 7/86 after 24.4 overs with Matthew Barnard taking three consecutive wickets. It became 8/104 when U16 player Tait Harper was bowled by Lachlan Clarke for 14 off 21 balls (2 fours) and soon after 9/106 off 30.2 overs. A fighting unbroken last wicket partnership of 45 between Daniel Caton and Matthew Smith (4*) enabled Kilsyth to reach 9/151cc off the 40 allotted overs. Daniel Caton was the standout batsman for the Redbacks scoring 67* off 95 balls (5 fours). The multiple wicket takers for Eastfield were Matthew Barnard, 3/12 off 5 overs, and Cody Andrews 3/17 off 7 overs.
A 68-run opening partnership in 13.1 overs between Joshua Holmes and Liam Rooks got Eastfield off to a good start in the run chase. It was leg spinner Kyan Harper who achieved the breakthrough, bowling Holmes for a sparking 39 off 31 balls (6 fours). Then, with the score on 81 after 16.2 overs, Michael Sturt had Liam Rooks caught by Rhys Kearney for 15 off 34 balls (2 fours). Three more wickets fell quickly, 3/89, 4/112 and 5/116 after 20.4 overs. From there, Eastfield reached 5/154 off 25.4 overs to win the match. Lachlan Clarke finished on 22* off 21 balls (3 fours), and Ben Anderson 9* off 11 balls. For Kilsyth, Kyan Harper captured 2/22 off 8 overs, Rhys Kearney 1/13 off 3 overs, and Michael Sturt 1/26 off 6 overs.
The Third XI (third) journeyed to Hoddles Creek to play Hoddles Creek First XI who were sixth on the Don Smith Shield ladder. It was a historic match in that it was the first time a Kilsyth CC team had actually played at the beautifully scenic Hoddles Creek Reserve. Both teams had previously played each other in Round 1 at Kilsyth with Hoddles Creek winning 7/206cc to Kilsyth’s 7/176cc. On Saturday, Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. However, the Redbacks lost wickets in the third and fourth overs to be 1/8 and 2/17. Then Andrew Woolhouse and Mark Unternahrer added 70 for the third wicket to see Kilsyth 3/87 after 16 overs. Woolhouse was the third wicket to fall for 23 off 34 balls (5 fours) with Unternahrer 42* at that stage. After Captain Robert Hutchings and Mark Unternahrer had added a further 39 for the fourth wicket, Unternahrer had reached 71* after 25 overs, with 15 overs remaining. Later, on the third ball of the 37th over, Mark Unternahrer brought up his third consecutive century with a single through the offside with the score now 4/184. A 68-run fifth-wicket partnership between Unternahrer and Steve Galea came to an end on the second ball of the 39th over after Galea had struck the first ball of the over for six. He was out for 25 off 43 balls (1 four and 2 sixes) and the partnership with “Unters” had lifted the score to 5/194. Kilsyth lost another wicket in the same over, bowled by Oscar Lyons, to be 6/200 after 39 overs and the innings ended on 6/202cc from the allotted 40 overs. As mentioned earlier, Mark Unternahrer finished on a magnificent 103*, including 18 fours. For Hoddles Creek, Oscar Lyons was the multiple wicket taker with 2/40 off 8 overs (1 maiden).
In the run chase, Hoddles Creek lost early wickets to be 1/14, 2/39, 3/39, 4/45 and 5/47 off 13 overs. To that point, Hayden Monds and Brodie Goodwin had both claimed two wickets each and Monds had also achieved a run out. A fifth wicket partnership of 71 between Willow Pearce and Kai Harrison retrieved the situation for Hoddles Creek who had progressed to 6/118 from 25.1 overs, with Harrison bowled by Robert Hutchings for 19 off 38 balls (3 fours). When the score had reached 6/149 off 33 overs, Hoddles Creek required 54 off 17 overs to win the match. It was then that opening bowler Hayden Monds was reintroduced into the attack, and he achieved the breakthrough with the first ball of his new spell, when Pearce was caught behind by ‘keeper Russell Hutchings for a bright 59 off 62 balls (9 fours). From there, Kilsyth were able to keep it tight and pick up wickets regularly: 8/158, 9/165 and all out for 180 in 38.3 overs. For Kilsyth, Hayden Monds captured 4/30 off 8 overs, Brodie Goodwin 2/21 off 5 overs, Robert Hutchings 1/19 off 4 overs, Matt Burgess 1/29 off 7 overs, and Mark Unternahrer 1/0 off 3 balls.
In B Grade, the Fourth XI played South Warrandyte Third XI at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat, but after 21.3 overs were 6/71. Then, a seventh wicket partnership of 79 between Tyron Paspa and Mark Sfiligoj took the score to 7/150 off 32.3 overs. It was at this point that Tyron Paspa was bowled by Harrison Findlay for a fine 65 off 100 balls (8 fours and 1 six). A 50-run eighth-wicket partnership between Sfiligoj and Jordan Relf, who was playing his 50th game for Kilsyth CC, came to an end on the last ball of the innings when Relf was out for a scintillating 40 off 15 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes). Mark Sfiligoj remained 39* off 34 balls (4 fours and 1 six). Thus, Kilsyth finished on a competitive 8/200cc off 36 overs. The main wicket takers for South Warrandyte were Vivek Chopra, 2/8 off 7 overs, Joel Smith 2/41 off 6 overs (1 maiden), and Harrison Findlay 2/66.
An opening partnership of 99 in 16.3 overs between Darren Johnson and Thomas Woodward set up South Warrandyte’s run chase. Woodward was the first batsman out for 48 off 52 balls (8 fours). It was 2/108 after 19.1 overs when Johnson was dismissed for 40 off 56 balls (4 fours). From there, South Warrandyte cruised to victory finishing on 4/204 off 27.2 overs. Kilsyth’s wicket takers were Louis Potter 2/34, Michael Panozzo 1/8 and Greg Gommers 1/42.
The Fifth XI played Chirnside Park at Lilydale Heights College. Chirnside Park won the toss and elected to bat. Five of the top six batsmen all retired not out with scores as follows: Christopher David 51* (8 fours), Isaac Ronalds 50* (5 fours and 1 six), Thomas Shortt 51* (4 fours and 3 sixes), Donovan Shortt 50* (5 fours and 3 sixes), and Zaosh Namerian 53* (9 fours and 1 six). Paul Dryden was the only batsman to be dismissed after scoring 35 (5 fours and 1 six), with the score on 334. Chirnside Park finished up scoring a massive 1/349cc off 36 overs. Joshua Dousset was the sole wicket taker for Kilsyth, taking 1/35. It was a tough day for the Redbacks who were dismissed for 98 in 28.1 overs. Captain Shane Smith top-scored with 52 off 42 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes), whilst Tegan Unternahrer scored 18 off 42 balls (3 fours). The main wicket takers
for Chirnside Park were Samarth Shah, who took 3/9 off 5.1 overs, and Captain James Basford 3/15 off 6 overs (1 maiden).
On Sunday, the Women’s First XI (third) were at home against Belgrave, who were fourth on the B Grade ladder. Belgrave won the toss and elected to bowl. Kilsyth were soon in trouble at 1/4, 2/5 and 3/11 after 6 overs, with Kirsten Bindley claiming all three wickets, including two LBWs. Belinda Hutchings and Tegan Unternahrer were rebuilding the innings when Belinda was adjudged LBW and Kilsyth were now 4/40 off 12.2 overs. Then Jess Walker claimed another wicket with her next ball to be on a hat-trick with Kilsyth 5/40. Tegan and Rhiley Unternahrer added 26 for the sixth wicket but then more wickets fell: 7/74, 8/75 and 9/78 before 13 runs were added for the last wicket to see Kilsyth all out for 91 after 33 overs. Tegan Unternahrer top scored with 31 off 65 balls (2 fours). Belgrave‘s Kirsten Bindley took the bowling honours with 4/10 off 5 overs and was well supported by Jess Walker, 2/16 off 4 overs, Melinda Cottrell 2/1 off 1 over, Gigi Collins 1/5 and Kayla Jaremczuk 1/7, both off 3 overs (1 maiden) each. In reply, an unbroken first wicket partnership of 95 off 25 overs gave Belgrave a resounding victory by 10 wickets. Yvonne Pleydell was 55* off 97 balls (7 fours), and Ishleen Lamba was 23* off 53 balls (2 fours).
On Saturday morning, Kilsyth’s U16 team continued their two-day match against Chirnside Park at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. Last week Chirnside Park were dismissed for 199, so Kilsyth needed 200 off 50 overs to achieve victory. After losing an early wicket on 18, the score progressed to 67 before Max Wills was the second wicket to fall for 19 off 27 balls (1 four). From there, the team collapsed to be all out for 94 in 31.5 overs. Joshua Bock was the shining light for Kilsyth top scoring with 47 off 89 balls (3 fours). Mili Peshavariya took 3/17 off 5 overs, Deepan Kumar 2/10 off 4.5 overs (1 maiden), Harry Fynmore 2/17, Jarrod Fernandez 1/13, and Aryan Vatsa 1/15, all off 5 overs (1 maiden) each.
The U14-5 team also played Chirnside Park at Kimberley Reserve, Number 1 Oval in a one-day match. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat, compiling 9/89cc off 25 overs. Ronak Mehra was 16* off 25 balls (2 fours), and Bailey Kennon 12* off 30 balls. Liam Johnson was the only other batsman to reach double figures scoring 12 off 18 balls (1 four). Chirnside’s Joshua Catania took 2/5 off 2 overs, Jackson Condie 2/9 off 4 overs (1 maiden), Pavan Kumar 1/2 off 2 overs (1 maiden), Cameron Hughes 1/3 off 3 overs (1 maiden), and Abraham Ward 1/9 off 2 overs. After losing early wickets to be 3/27 off 4.5 overs, Chirnside Park achieved a comfortable win finishing on 7/121 off 21 overs. The top run scorers were Pavan Kumar with 21 retired not out of 25 balls (2 fours), and Cameron Hughes 17 off 25 balls (2 fours). For Kilsyth, Zack Mellerick was the multiple wicket taker with 2/13 off 2 overs, with single wickets to Ronak Mehra 1/7, Oliver Gilham 1/12, and Liam Johnson 1/15, all off two overs each, whilst Luca Wassnig took 1/8 off 1 over.
On Friday evening, the U12-3 team continued their match against Croydon Ranges at Silcock Reserve, North Oval. At the end of the first split on the previous Friday, Croydon Ranges, after being 4/41, were 4/141 off 23 overs in reply to Kilsyth’s 8/74. Last Friday, Ranges continued their innings with Larson Moran on 20* off 25 balls (3 fours). After 25.4 overs Moran retired on 30* off 40 balls with the score on 4/161. Then, in the 27th over Isaac Donley took two wickets (both bowled) to see Croydon Ranges 6/164 after 26.5 overs. On the last ball of the 29th over, Bailey Kennon took another wicket, caught by Tate Lindsay. Then, on the first ball of the next over, Dylan Ekanayake captured the eighth wicket (clean bowled) and Croydon Ranges were now 8/173 off 29.1 overs. It was soon 9/182 off 31.3 overs when Ryder Pahi picked up another wicket (also bowled). This brought two retired batsmen together at the crease, opener Oscar Bannister who had previously retired on 15*, and Xavier Ramsey, who had made a sizzling 69 retired not out off 40 balls last week. Ramsey (138*) retired not out for a second time after facing a further 40 balls and at that stage Croydon Ranges were 9/273 off 40.3 overs. Oscar Bannister (36*, 1 four) also retired not out for a second time after facing 80 balls and at that stage, Croydon Ranges were 9/286 off 43.4 overs. Ramsey then came back in to join Larson who was soon clean bowled by Zion Solomons for 39 off 52 balls (6 fours) and Croydon Ranges were all out for 292 off 45.1 overs. Xavier Ramsey top scored with a brilliant 138 not out off 81 balls (20 fours and 1 six). Incredibly, the last wicket added 110 runs between three previously retired batsmen. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Isaac Donley 3/27 and Angus Bright 2/26 off 4 overs each, Dylan Ekanayake 1/21, Tate Lindsay 1/23 and Bailey Kennon 1/36 off 5 overs each, Ryder Pahi 1/22 off 3 overs, and Zion Solomons 1/33 off 5.1 overs.
Resuming on 8/74, Kilsyth fought it out but in the end were dismissed for 97 after 32.4overs. Bailey Kennnon was the last batsman out for 24 off 57 balls (3 fours). The wicket takers for Croydon Ranges were Hugo Osanz 3/15 off 5 overs, Ryley Stephen 2/5 off 4 overs (1 maiden). Larson Moran 1/3 off 2 overs, James Sainsbury and Xavier Payne, both 1/7 off 2 overs and 4 overs respectively, and Braxtyn Plain 1/23 off 2.4 overs.
The U12-6 team also played against Croydon Ranges in a one-day match at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve. Croydon Ranges won the toss and elected to bat. After Amarvir Singh Bhatti took the first wicket for Kilsyth on 26 (clean bowled), the Redbacks got on top and restricted Croydon Ranges to 8/62 off 20.1 overs. Ranges’ top scorers were Ricky Jo 12, and Reuben Church 10* retired off 15 balls (1 four). For Kilsyth, Harrison Sfiligoj took 2/2 off 2 overs, Wesley Bowman 2/7 off 2.1 overs, Aiden Nicoll and Cooper Clark, both 1/2 off 2 overs each, and Isaac Semple and Amarvir Singh Bhatti, both 1/8 off 2 overs each. In reply, Kilsyth comfortably chased down the target in 14.3 overs finishing on 2/64. The best of the batsmen were Wesley Bowman, 16 off 15 balls (3 fours), and Aiden Nicoll 8* off 6 balls (1 four). For Croydon Ranges, Rueben Church took 1/10 off 2 overs and there was a runout as well.
