By Les Hutchings
Playing at home, Kilsyth Cricket Club’s First XI won the toss and sent Ainslie Park into bat in their Trollope Shield one-day match. Ainslie lost their first wicket in the eighth over when Dillon Bettess was caught by Scott Nicholson at square leg for 18 off 23 balls (3 fours), from the bowling of left arm spinner Mackenzie Scott-Thomas. At drinks the score had reached 1/67 off 20 overs. Mackenzie bowled his 8 overs straight to finish with 1/16 (2 maidens) in an economical spell. He was then replaced by another left arm spinner, new recruit Uvindu Wimaladharma, who started off with two maidens and in his fourth over picked up two wickets. Firstly, opener Brendan McGuiness was caught by Scott Nicholson for 30 off 83 balls (4 fours) and then, three balls later, Tige Ridley was caught by Captain Coach Marcus Adams for 33 off 37 balls (5 fours). At that stage Ainslie Park were 3/91 off 23.5 overs. A good partnership of 83 took the score to 4/174 when Aydn Sier was trapped lbw by Andy Solomons for 21, including 19 singles. Ainslie lost their fifth wicket at 205 when Jake Tucker was bowled by Scott Nicholson for a brilliant 79 off 54 balls, including 10 fours and 2 sixes. After their allotted 40 overs, Ainslie Park had compiled 5/209cc. Uvindu Wimaladharma finished with 2/28 (2 maidens) in a promising debut for the Redbacks.
After tea, Kilsyth started the run chase well when Andy Solomons struck a boundary off the first ball. Andy had just flown in from overseas after being a member of the successful Australian Over 35 Indoor World Cup winning team. After 17 overs, Kilsyth were 3/67 but then there was a dramatic collapse with the Redbacks losing 5 wickets for 4 runs! James Hunter did most of the damage with three wickets, Ethan Stone one wicket and there was also a runout. Another run out saw Kilsyth slump to 9/83 before being dismissed for 98 in 34.2 overs. For Kilsyth, opener Pasan Ganegoda batted well for 28 off 41 balls (3 fours and a five), whilst Marcus Adams 18 off 29 balls (4 fours), Scott Nicholson 11 not out (2 fours), and Uvindu Wimaladharma 10 (2 fours), were the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Ainslie’s best bowlers were James Hunter 3 for 6 off 8 overs (5 maidens) in an outstanding effort and opening bowler Jake Tucker 2/25 off 7.2 overs.
The Second XI also played Ainslie Park and an opening partnership of 193 between Cameron Eustice 92 off 94 balls (13 fours and 3 sixes) and Coby Arbuckle 106 not out off 134 balls (15 fours), set the game up for Ainslie who finished on 2/214cc off their 40 overs. The only wicket taker for Kilsyth was Daniel Stapelfeldt 2/44 off 8 overs (1 maiden). In reply, Kilsyth were all out for 130 off 36.5 overs. Top scorers were opener Robert Hutchings 21 (5 fours) off 26 balls, Rhys McKean 32 (4 fours and 1 six) off 49 balls and Kevin Baldsing 47 not out off 44 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). Taj Johnstone captured 4/28 off 7 overs (1 maiden) for Ainslie.
The Third XI played Healesville Second XI at Don Road Number Two Oval. Healesville batted first and compiled 8/228cc off their 36 overs with Harrison Baxter scoring 54 not out (2 fours) off 67 balls, Max Wallace 46 (6 fours) off 62 balls and Allan Pearce 43 not out (4 fours) off 42 balls. Kilsyth’s main wicket takers were new players, Sanjeev Rana 4/34 off 8 overs and Ravin Mehra 2/57 off 8 overs. In reply, Kilsyth were dismissed for 124 off 26.4 overs with brothers Peter Harper 30 off 28 balls (4 fours) and Matt Harper 33 off 29 balls (4 fours and 1 six) putting on 63 for the fourth wicket after Kilsyth were 3/7 at the start of their innings. Travis Tyszkiewicz finished on 15 not out (3 fours) and for Healesville, opening bowler Darcy English captured 5/27 off 8 overs.
The Fourth XI batted first against Warrandyte on Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve and scored 9/150cc after 36 overs.Top scorers for the Redbacks were Captain Anthony Sequeira 28 (2 fours and 1 six) off 63 balls and Steve Galea 28 off 51 balls (2 fours and 1 six). Warrandyte’s Shaun Ison took the bowling honours with 3/24 off 8 overs (1 maiden). Warrandyte chased down the target in 17.3 overs finishing on 3/153. The highlight of their innings was Mark Butcher’s scintillating 80 not out off 42 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. He was well supported by Ben Trayford 34 off 29 balls (3 fours and 1 six) and Greg Warren 26 (5 fours) off 31 balls. Best of the bowlers for Kilsyth were new recruit Kasun Ekanayake 1/26 off 6 overs (1 maiden) , Michael Sturt 1/17 off 3 overs and Brian Matanisiga 1/5 off 3 balls.
The Fifth XI achieved the only win for Kilsyth’s senior teams on the weekend. They restricted Heathwood to 9/113cc off 36 overs at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve with the main wicket takers being Shaun Goodwin 2/4 off 4 overs (1 maiden), Ryan Kaal 2/4 off 3 overs (2 maidens) and Brodie Goodwin 2/9 off 5 overs (1 maiden). Heathwood’s Mason Jeffery top scored with 32 (3 fours). Kilsyth’s Greg Gommers 34 and Shaun Goodwin 26 not out saw the Redbacks home, finishing on 4/114 off 28 overs.
On Sunday, Kilsyth’s Women’s Team played St Andrews at JW Manson Reserve in a T-20 match. Together with three new players last week, Kilsyth welcomed another two debutants in Round 2: Stephanie Gibbs and Faye Baxevanis. The Redbacks won the toss and elected to bat but were soon in trouble at 2/2 after the first two overs. However, Ashleigh Katoa 11 (2 fours) and Stephanie Gibbs 7 (1 four) took the score to 32 before Stephanie was out just before the drinks break. Immediately after drinks, Kilsyth lost two wickets off the first 2 balls with Tayla Cross on a hat-trick and the score now 5/33 off 10.2 overs. With the hat-trick avoided, Courtney Anderson 26 not out off 32 balls (3 fours) and Belinda Hutchings 19 not out off 32 balls (1 four) took the score to 5/92 cc off the allotted 20 overs in a good steadying partnership.
However, with only 10 players in the field, Kilsyth couldn’t restrict St Andrews, who ran out winners by eight wickets with 3.4 overs to spare. For the Redbacks, wicket takers were Ashleigh Katoa 1/11 off 4 overs and Eva Gootschling1/17 off 2.2 overs whilst Belinda Hutchings took two good catches in the field. Best batters for St Andrews were Maya Kelaita 17, Mads Mauchline 15 and Danielle Millott 18 not out.
Kilsyth Women are still in need of new players. If anyone would like to play, please contact Belinda Hutchings 0422 454 473 or email: Belinda_hutchings@hotmail.com
