A close game between Kilmore and East Sunbury in Johnstone Shield firsts action on Saturday was almost cut short following an injury scare late in the first innings.
Visitors East Sunbury won the toss and sent Kilmore in to bat first, with solid runs coming in for more than 40 overs.
In the last few overs of the innings, Kilmore batsman Brett Buttler was hit in the head with a ball, forcing him to go to hospital as a precaution at the halfway break.
The veteran was later found to have suffered concussion but no other major injuries.
The incident did, however, mean Kilmore lost one of its opening bowlers and a player on the field, leading to a scramble to find replacements – eventually filled by Kilmore players from two other divisions.
Coach and caption Jacob Walton said losing Buttler was a blow.
“Different people had to bowl in different spots because obviously [Buttler] couldn’t open for us, so Elliot [Frendo] opened and it was hard to play at times. It was a challenging day,” he said.
Kilmore was bowled out for 162 runs off 48 overs and the challenges meant East Sunbury was able to mount a charge to overcome the hosts in the second last over of the match, finishing eight for 164.
Kevin Craddock was a standout for Kilmore, making 62 runs alongside 20 from Walton, and a spate of smaller totals from the rest of the batting ranks.
During East Sunbury’s innings, it was Ben Dawson and Andrew Smith in the spotlight – bowling eight overs for 14 runs and eight overs for 2/25 respectively.
Josh Buttler also bowled later in the innings and took three wickets.
“They got off to a pretty good start, they were 27 off four overs and that sort of set them up,” Walton said.
“We fought back, haggled a few wickets and had them 8/140 with six overs to go, so it was probably anyone’s game but then they closed out.”
The Gisborne and District Cricket Association now heads into a break for Christmas, with Kilmore at home against Riddell when play resumes on January 6.
“The story of our season has been that we’ve been in good positions in most games, and just sometimes can’t seem to get across the line,” Walton said.
“If we keep playing like we’re playing and start winning these close ones, we can make a push for finals and see how far we can go.”
In other Johnstone Shield action, Wallan secured a dominant victory over Riddell to maintain its flawless season.
Riddell elected to bat first and made 8/115 runs in 40 overs, however Wallan was able to overcome the total in just over 24 overs to finish 5/116.
In the seconds competition, Wallan was also victorious over Riddell, while Broadford overcame Rupertswood in the only two-day match of the round and Kilmore fell short against East Sunbury.
The first match of the Johnstone Shield’s 2024 firsts competition will feature Broadford at home against East Sunbury and Wallan travelling to play Eynesbury, while the seconds competition will not return until January 13.
McIntyre Cup
Romsey finished the year as one of the undefeated sides following its victory over Sunbury Kangaroos.
After the match was abandoned due to poor weather the previous week, the one-day game got underway in Sunbury with Romsey electing to bat first.
The visitors made 9/208 runs, a total out of reach for the Kangaroos, who fell short, finishing with 8/160.
Romsey’s key rival Gisborne also recorded a victory on the weekend, securing a convincing win over Diggers Rest Bulla Village at home.
In the McIntyre Cup’s seconds competition Romsey was also victorious, defeating Sunbury Kangaroos 1/121 to 9/117 at home.
Romsey’s efforts were largely a two-pronged attack, as Jed Richardson and Logan Collins both made unbeaten half centuries.
Richardson also took three wickets, while Jake East and Darin Jewell took two apiece.
The McIntyre Cup’s firsts competition will return on January 6, with Romsey travelling to play sixth-placed Macedon.
