By Les Hutchings
Last weekend saw the completion of two-day matches for Kilsyth’s Firsts through to Fourths, whilst the Fifth XI played a one-day game. A highlight of the round was a record Third XI opening partnership of 204 between Anthony Cook and Robert Hutchings (65). Cook’s innings of 149 off 83 balls was extraordinary and included 18 fours and 10 sixes. Jack Childs also scored a century, 117 off 141 balls, for Kilsyth’s U16-1 team and then followed up in the afternoon with 65 for Kilsyth’s 1st XI in the Trollope Shield. The Firsts, Seconds, Thirds, Fifths, U12’s and U14’s all had good wins whilst the Women’s team didn’t play on Sunday due to the RDCA’s heat policy.
The First XI played South Croydon at home with Kilsyth winning the toss and electing to bat. A solid opening partnership of 53 between Sudhir Prabhu and Jack Childs was broken in the 19th over when Prabhu was adjudged lbw for 34 off 61 balls, off the bowling of spinner Christopher Jones. Andy Solomons and Childs then put on 68 for the second wicket, with Solomons batting brightly for 44 off 55 balls. Kilsyth went to tea in a strong position, being 2/133 off 40 overs with Jack Childs on 37 not out. After the break, Kilsyth lost a quick wicket to be 3/133 in the 43rd over. Captain Marcus Adams and Childs then took the score to 175 when Adams was unfortunately caught by Ryan Smith off the bowling of Christopher Jones for 18 off 43 balls. In the same over, Childs, who had batted with great application and determination, was trapped lbw for 65 off 163 balls, and suddenly Kilsyth were 5/177 in the 57th over. From there the Redbacks lost regular wickets and were eventually dismissed for 219 after 77.2 overs. Pasan Ganegoda scored 18 off 38 balls before also falling victim to Jones, who finished with the excellent figures of 6/62 off 19 overs to take the bowling honours.
On Day 2, fast medium Andy Solomons opened the bowling for Kilsyth for the first time this season and he took the first wicket (lbw) to have South Croydon 1/15 after 9 overs. Solomons ended his first spell after 7 overs with 1/14. A second wicket partnership between Matthew King and Bradley Stewart took the score to 68 when Stewart was bowled by left arm spinner Unvindu Wimaldharma for 30 off 57 balls. It was a hot day in the field and at the second drinks break in the session, South Croydon were 2/76 after 32 overs. Immediately after drinks, Solomons came back on, and with the first ball of the second over of his new spell claimed the important wicket of opener Matthew King, caught behind by Will Beard for 31 off 88 balls. South Croydon were now 3/77 in the 35th over. Then Kamal Kuruppu, who had bowled six consecutive maidens at the other end, claimed two wickets in another maiden over (both lbw) to see South Croydon slump to 5/79 after 36 overs and Kilsyth gaining the ascendancy. At tea, South were 5/86 off 39 overs. At that stage left arm medium pacer Kamal Kuruppu had bowled 9 overs, including 8 consecutive maidens, and taken 2/7. After tea, Ryan Smith and Fraser Sheridan lifted the score to 120 when Pasan Ganegoda took an outstanding diving catch at deep mid-wicket, catching the ball at full stretch just before it hit the ground off the bowling of Uvindu Wimaladharma, which saw Sheridan out for 23 off 53 balls. From there South Croydon kept the score ticking over but also lost wickets: 7/147, 8/162, 9/182 and all out for 184 in 73.1 overs. Ryan Smith was the last man out, caught at deep mid-wicket by Mackenzie Scott-Thomas off Kuruppu for a well-made 42 off 106 balls. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Kamal Kuruppu 3/36 off 18.1 overs, Andy Solomons 3/38 off 16 overs, Uvindu Wimaladharma 2/51 off 20 overs, and Mackenzie Scott-Thomas 1/29 off 8 overs. Left arm medium fast Nuwan Sampath also bowled well in his first game for the Club, finishing with 0/13 off 6 overs.
The Second XI also won the toss and batted against South Croydon at Cheong Park. Kilsyth lost early wickets to be 1/1 and then 2/28, but a 56-run third wicket partnership between opener Kevin Baldsing and Daniel Caton steadied the situation. With the score on 84, Caton was out for 15 off 52 balls. Baldsing was eventually dismissed for 69, his highest score for the season to date, to see Kilsyth now 4/116. Baldsing had faced 116 balls and struck 7 fours and 1 six in his innings that set the tone for the day. Joel Harris scored 30 off 78 balls, and Mark Unternahrer 52 off 115 balls, to help steer Kilsyth to the competitive total of 229 off 78 overs when stumps were drawn. Harris and Unternahrer added 46 runs for the fifth wicket. Multiple wicket takers for South Croydon were Ryan Lacey 2/27 off 12 overs, and Jordan Wynee 2/15 off 7 overs.
On Day 2 South Croydon, at 2/191 chasing Kilsyth’s 229, looked home and hosed. However, it was then that a remarkable change came over the game. Kevin Baldsing bowled Anmol Singh for 55 off 54 balls. Then the wickets began to tumble: 4/194, 5/207, 6/211, 7/214, 8/219, 9/219 and all out for 224 in 71.5 overs. Kilsyth had snatched an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat in a remarkable turnaround to win by 5 runs. Lachie Barrett, who was the seventh wicket to fall, top scored with 85 off 184 balls. Baldsing completed a great all-round performance with 3/20 off 10.5 overs, and Unternahrer took 2/27 off 11 overs.
The Third XI played against Eastfield Second XI at Roy Baldwin Oval in a must win game to keep their finals hopes alive. After Eastfield won the toss and elected to bowl, Kilsyth’s Anthony Cook and Captain Robert Hutchings opened the batting. Cook was in amazing form, blasting 149 off 83 balls and together with Hutchings, put on 204 for the first wicket in 30.1 overs when Cook was dismissed. It was a record opening stand for the Third XI, and only the second time in the Club’s history that there has been a double-century partnership for the Third XI. After the first 9 overs the score was 0/28. However, the flood gates opened in the 10th over which went for 25. At drinks Kilsyth were 0/119 off 20 overs and by tea the score had climbed to 1/225 off 36 overs. The second wicket fell on 261 when Dylan Smith was caught for 29 off 46 balls. Soon after Hutchings was also out caught for a well-made 65 off 156 balls, and Kilsyth were now 3/276. Matthew Harper contributed 25 off 34 balls, but Kilsyth lost regular wickets and eventually declared at 9/342 off 62.5 overs. Chief wicket takers for Eastfield were Dallas Leeming, 3/45 off 11 overs, and Tyson Elphick 3/81 off 12.5 overs. Eastfield were left with 17 overs to bat and at stumps were 2/34 with spinner Justin Smith capturing 2/12 off his 5 overs.
Eastfield resumed on Day 2 but never really threatened Kilsyth’s score, being all out for 170 at tea off 55.4 overs. Trent Potter took out the bowling honours with 3/17 off 6 overs, and was well supported by Mark Wells 2/22 off 9.4 overs, Justin Smith snared 2/46 off 12 overs, Kasun Ekanayake 1/14 off 5 overs, and Dylan Smith 1/29 off 13 overs. Eastfield were asked to follow-on and reached 1/86 off 24 overs when the match was called off. Troy Pretty finished on 42 not out and Blake Biggin 37 not out, with Dylan Smith taking 1/18 off 4 overs.
The Fourth XI played a split innings two-day match away against Warranwood. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl. Max Wills took an early wicket to have Warranwood 1/4 but they recovered to be 1/134 after the first split of 36 overs with Craig Buchan 59 not out off 90 balls, and Captain Matthew Rooks 65 not out off 118 balls. Under 16 player Max Wills was the best of the bowlers with figures of 1/8 off 6 overs. Kilsyth replied with 4/125 off their 36 overs at stumps on Day 1. Main contributors with the bat were Captain Anthony Sequeira 24, Jake Powell 25 (4 fours) and Shane Smith 17 not out. Declan Cowie captured 3/25 off 9 overs for Warranwood.
On Day 2 Kilsyth resumed batting but was all out for 205 off 66.1 overs. Shane Smith was the standout batsman with 53 off 104 balls. Multiple wicket takers for Warranwood were Declan Cowie, 5/43 off 18 overs, and Aniket Desai 2/25 off 10 overs. Warranwood had little trouble chasing down the victory target, finishing on 3/206 off 48.5 overs. Matthew Rooks with 93 off 152 balls, and Craig Buchan, 91 off 124 balls, were outstanding with the bat, sharing a second wicket partnership of 190. Max Wills was the best of the bowlers taking 1/22 off 10 overs.
The Fifth XI (second) played top side Mount Evelyn in a one-day match. Mount Evelyn won the toss and elected to bat, posting 7/193 cc off their allotted 36 overs. Mark Kuhne, and Benjamin Dunstone, both retired on 50 not out off 66 and 54 balls respectively, whilst Jonah Langenbacher made 35 off 18 balls. The main wicket taker for Kilsyth was Ravin Mehra with 3/15 off 7 overs. Kilsyth was able to chase down the target in 28 overs, finishing on 5/194. The main run scorers were Ryan Kaal with 53 retired not out off 30 balls, Mark Sfiligoj 44 not out off 32 balls, Ravin Mehra 33 not out off 28 balls, and Rhys Kearney 25 off 54 balls. Mount Evelyn’s Alastair Churchill took 2/23 off 3 overs.
After winning the toss, Kilsyth U16-1’s batted all morning on Day 1 to post a score of 164 (all out) off 48.3 overs against top side Ainslie Park. Interestingly, Jack Childs scored a brilliant 117 off 141 balls, was the only Kilsyth batsman to reach double figures. Multiple wicket takers for Ainslie were Cooper Doughty 3/26 off 9 overs, Taj Johnstone 2/21 off 8 overs (1 maiden), and Mason O’Neill 2/22 off 5.3 overs. On Day 2, Ainslie Park scored 5/168 off 46.3 overs to win the match. Mitchell Cliff top scored with 60 off 95 balls (2 fours), and Cooper Doughty made 52 off 116 balls (5 fours). For the Redbacks, Rhys Kearney took 3/21 off 6 overs and Luke Childs 2/10 off 4 overs.
The merged Yarra Glen-Kilsyth U14-5’s won the toss and elected to bat against Wandin, compiling 2/133cc off 25 overs. The following batsmen retired not out off 25 balls each: Lawson Appleton 24 (3 fours), Ronak Mehra 21 (2 fours), and Lucas Burke 17 (2 fours), whilst Tait Harper retired not out on 18 off 16 balls (3 fours). In reply Wandin scored 9/113cc off 25 overs, Kai Lowrie top scoring with 24 off 20 balls. Best of the bowlers were Benjamin Holland who captured 4/7 off 3 overs, and Hayden Monds 2/4 off 3 overs. It was a good win for the merged team who are currently second on the ladder.
The U12-4’s lost the toss and Warranwood elected to bat on Roy Baldwin Oval at Pinks Reserve. They posted 6/86cc off 23 overs and Kilsyth replied with 3/134cc to register a convincing win. Zion Solomons, who continues to improve, starred with 26 retired not out off 15 balls (4 fours). Others to do well with the bat were Thomas Bernsten, 14 retired not out off 15 balls (2 fours), Bailey Kennon 14 not out off 19 balls (2 fours), and Noah Stirling 12 not out off 26 balls (2 fours). The U12’s are currently fourth on the ladder.
