By Colin MacGillivray
KILMORE Cricket Club celebrated a new chapter in its history with the debut of its women’s side in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association, GDCA, trouncing Bacchus Marsh at Kilmore Cricket and Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
Rain delayed the start of the season by nearly two months and the team was forced to forfeit to Darley in what would have been its first match on November 27.
Despite the setbacks, the Blues wasted no time showing their class against a team that made last season’s semi-final.
Kilmore won the toss and opted to bowl first, with their decision paying quick dividends.
Opening bowler Taylah Logie took a wicket with the first ball of the match, and Bridget Stute backed her up with an incredible 4/3, including a hat-trick.
Megan Farrell and Kellie Freeman also took wickets as Bacchus Marsh was all out for just 46 runs inside 10 overs.
Kilmore did not lose a wicket in reply, with openers Logie and Farrell unbeaten on 33 and 18 respectively as the side raced to 0/59 from six overs.
Kilmore president Brett Buttler labelled the performance an ‘excellent result’ for a team that included many first-time players.
Buttler also had plenty of reason to smile about his team’s performance in the men’s second-tier Johnstone Shield competition, with the Blues batting through the first day of their two-day match against Gisborne to post a whopping 4/322.
The star of the show was opener Kevin Craddock, who carried his bat through the innings for an unbeaten 139.
Ben Dawson and Marcus Davern also made sizeable contributions with 53 and 46 runs respectively, while skipper Josh Buttler finished unbeaten alongside Craddock on 24.
The match will conclude at Kilmore this weekend.
McIntyre Cup
In the top-tier McIntyre Cup, Romsey is in the box seat against Diggers Rest Bulla after the first day of their two-day clash at Romsey Recreation Reserve.
The Redbacks batted after winning the toss, with opener Ben Way producing a captain’s knock of 124 to guide the team to a total of 287.
Way’s innings included 10 fours and two sixes at a handy run rate of more than 60, with Chris Burkett shaping up as the team’s second centurion before being caught for 72.
Indika Massalage was the best of the Diggers Rest Bulla bowlers with 4/42 in 9.2 overs.
The match will resume at Romsey from 1pm this Saturday.
Wallan faces an uphill battle in its McIntyre Cup match against Gisborne, chasing a target of 274 when play resumes this weekend.
Playing at home, Gisborne won the toss and batted all day, with only Matthew Barake, 52 not out, recording a half century, while six other batsman reached at least 25 runs.
Wallan’s bowlers shared in the wickets, with Ryan Cumberland, 2/27, and Todd Keenan, 2/50, the only multiple wicket takers.
Steve Bell produced arguably the most impressive bowling display of the day however, recording 12 maidens from his 22 overs to finish with an economical 1/31, limiting the damage of the Gisborne bats.
See next week’s Review for the final results of all GDCA matches.