CSB Championship: South Caulfield beats Mentone in a thriller

A South Caulfield tailender blurted out some choice words as the ladder leaders secured a fighting victory in Cricket Southern Bayside Championship division.

Jonathon Curtis made 11no in a match-winning 10th wicket partnership for South Cauflield on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Caulfield’s wagging tail rode its luck to clinch a gripping one-wicket win over Mentone in CSB Championship division on Saturday.

Chasing 170 for victory, South were reeling at 8-113 after Tigers duo Charles Bourne (4-56) and Michael Waller (3-53) had bowled brilliantly.

But No.9 Kanishka Alvitigala put the ladder leaders back on track with a breezy 36 off 45 balls and then a 17-run 10th wicket partnership between Kaz Szymanski (12no) and Jono Curtis (11no) secured victory.

Curtis, who survived a confident appeal for caught behind with two runs to get, was none too happy about batting at No.11 and went out there with a point to prove — especially to his South Caulfield coach Nick Jewell.

“I told him he’s the best number 11 in the comp but it didn’t soothe his concerns about batting number 11,” Jewell said.

“He came out and got 11 off 22 not out and I think when they hit the winning runs he said, ‘stick that up your a…, Tugga’ as a joke’.”

Kanishka Alvitigala cools off. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Jewell said Alvitigala, who hit 5 fours and a six, “changed the game” with a gem of an innings.

“Big G Train batted beautifully, he came out and played really aggressively, hit a lot of boundaries,” he said.

“We lost early wickets and the ball was nipping around a bit and he just played aggressively. When the ball was in his areas he hit it to the boundary and got us close.”

Jewell said Englishman Szymanski’s determined 67-ball innings was crucial as South edged closer to the total.

“He faced 67 balls for 12 not out batting with G,” he said.

“At one stage he was nought off 25 balls but he put on a partnership with big G to get us within striking distance.”

Szymanski hit the winning runs in the 59th over, a clip off his pads for three.

Jewell said the victory showed South Caulfield can win “ugly” if required.

“We’ve won most of our games one down, two down chasing 200 plus, doing it with just the top order,” he said.

“The middle to lower order has hardly had a hit. While there was some carelessness with our top order, probably three really ordinary dismissals, it gave a chance for the middle and lower order to see what they’re like under pressure which is great.

“I said that after the game, you can’t keep winning pretty every week, good sides can win ugly when they need to and certainly it was an ugly win.”

Meanwhile, Beaumaris consolidated fourth spot after a five-wicket win over Bentleigh. Sharks skipper Adam Bull top scored with 49 off 56 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes) while Noah Kelly (40) and Chris Hall (31) also played well as they passed Bentleigh’s 145 in the 48th over.

A rousing 10th wicket partnership has taken Murrumbeena to a thrilling win over Mordialloc. Beena last pair Jack Anstee (7no) and Troy Ryan (8no) came together at 9-137 and put on 15 to take their side past Mordialloc’s 151. Earlier, Murrumbeena opener Ashish Harsolia made 47 and skipper Alexander Ross 30. Mordialloc paceman Harry Birkman was gallant with 4-37 off 19 overs.

Bonbeach’s top order fired in its six-wicket win over St Brigid’s St Louis. Chasing 181, Bonbeach coasted to 4-182 in 48 overs, with Tom Smith (32), Bryce O’Connor (43), George Thomas (51) and Oliver Peake (38no) impressing.

CSB Championship ladder: South Caulfield 43, Bonbeach 37, Mordialloc 32, Beaumarus 24, Murrumbeena 23, Mentone 22, St Brigid’s 14, Bentleigh 4.