Final-over thriller as Redbacks scrape past North by one wicket

Sunday, October 11

Pinks Reserve, Kilsyth

By Ethan Wright

Co-captain Lecia Baldry hit the winning runs as Kilsyth (9/137) snuck past North

Ringwood (7/136) by one wicket at Pinks Reserve on Sunday. With two runs needed oN

the final over, number 11 Baldry drove calmly to complete the win.

Sent in by the Redbacks after losing the toss, North started well on a fine day. A 56-run

opening stand between Anna Janssen (30) and Emma Peter-Budge (22) set the tone,

before Abbie Pou (36) consolidated to end the 24th over 2/98.

A mini collapse followed, with five wickets lost for just 27 runs. After the loss of Tiarna

Gerrey (11), bowled by Ashleigh Katoa (6.0-0-16-3), Elise Carbery (0) followed for a

golden duck, leaving Katoa on a hat-trick.

Katoa (pictured) was the pick of the bowlers in Kilsyth's bowling innings (Photo: Supplied/Les Hutchings)

12-year-old Rianna Sandhu (18*) came in at 7, ending her knock with three boundaries to guide her side to a defendable total of 7/136.

Kilsyth began their reply well, before Belinda Hutchings fell LBW for 18. Back into the attack with the score at 1/35, Sandhu (4.0-2-11-4) took centre stage with the ball, taking a triple-wicket maiden to gut the Redbacks; Katoa (1), Stephanie Gibbs (0) and Rhiley Unternahrer (0) all falling. Hoang Huynh (5) and Monique Maassen (3), Sandhu’s fourth, followed cheaply to leave the home team reeling at 6/66.

The Gibbs sisters steadied the ship, with Serena and Sarah Gibbs swinging the game

back to Kilsyth, when it seemed a win was slipping away. Co-captain Serena struck four

boundaries on a fast outfield for her 35 before falling LBW to Carbery.

Heading into the final three overs, and with Sarah and debutant Keavy Brain (1*) at the

crease, the Redbacks reeled the game in. When Sarah fell for 28, there were still 12 runs required offtwo-and-a-half overs. Baldry came out with intent to finish it, smashing her first ball for four.

Leaving Brain to bat out the 35th over, Baldry (10*) wasted no time in sealing the win,

with five balls to spare and by just the one wicket.

Some sloppy bowling was what cost North on the day, with their 33 sundries conceded

nearly a quarter of Kilsyth’s score.