News
Bilchuris equals Houlson's record
Sun, 2 May 2010By COLIN BETTLES
QUINNS Rocks all-rounder Chris Bilchuris has moved into equal first position on the list of all time decorated cricketers in the North Suburban Community/Wanneroo Cricket Association.
Bilchuris claimed his sixth NSCCA/WCA player of the year award when he secured the 2009-10 title, defeating fellow Quinns all-rounder Toby Morrell by less than 30 points.
Morrell finished with 909.5 points after claiming 27 wickets for the season and scoring 402 runs.
Bilchuris finished on 939 points after claiming 42 wickets and making 324 runs in another stellar performance.
Sorrento-Duncraig all-rounder Shane Paap, whose team lost this year’s grand final after being bowled out for 34 in the fourth innings of the season decider, chasing 91 runs for victory, finished in third place on 786.5 points.
The win also made it back-to-back victories for Bilchuris, after he claimed the prestigious award in 2008-09.
His sixth player of the year victory took him to equal first on the A Grade player of the year list, to share the mantle with fellow leg-spinning all rounder Brian Houlson.
Houlson won the award six times playing for Balga and North Dianella, starting with his fist title in 1989-90, and then five consecutive years from 1991-92 through to 1995-96.
Another right arm leg-spinning all-rounder, Alan Barker from the Wanneroo Cricket Club, won the award in 1981-82 and then in three consecutive seasons; 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1985-86.
Bilchuris also won the award in 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05 and 2006-07.
The charismatic leg-spinner was typically proud and humbled by his effort in winning this season’s player of the year award and his history making effort in equalling Houlson’s record of six wins.
He said Morrell was unlucky not to win this year’s award, after being unable to bowl in the first five games of the season.
Bilchuris regarded Morrell was the best player in the competition, due to his all-round abilities and striking capacity with the ball.
In 145 games for QRCC over the past 11 seasons, the prolific all-rounder has scored 5008 runs at an average of about 35 with six centuries and 27 half-centuries.
His bowling has secured 330 wickets at a career average of about 14, with 15 five wicket hauls and two ten wicket match hauls.
His individual form has also been enshrined in team success with Quinns moving from the competition’s new chums in his first season at the club, to A Grade premiers in 2007/08 after defeating Wanneroo.
Quinns also won the One Day premiership in 2001/02 and were runners up to Kingsley-Woodvale in the main competition that same season, with Bilchuris claiming the player of the match award in a losing effort.
Bilchuris made his highest score of 176 against Wanneroo Sports in round eight 2001-02; the highest individual score in the competition’s history in A Grade.
In proving that age is no barrier to good leg-spinners, Bilchuris claimed his best match bowling figures last season, taking 12-88 against Kingsway-Sportsman in round two.
That effort was also the best individual match bowling analysis in A Grade for the NSCCA/WCA.
Bilchuris came to Quinns rocks after playing two seasons of district cricket with Wanneroo Cricket Club in the WACA competition in 1996-97 and 1997-98, where his leg-spinning prowess was boosted by coaching from former WA player Tim Zoehrer, the club coach at that time.
The 41 year old was born in Manjimup and started playing cricket there as an eight year old.
Apart from sliding down the batting order, Bilchuris shows no sign of slowing down after 11 highly successful seasons in the NSCCA/WCA.
Bilchuris promised to return and play again next season, with one eye on a seventh player of the year victory and the other one a premiership for his beloved Quinns Rocks.
Chris Bilchuris (left) and NSCCA/WCA Life Member, John Stewart.
Pictures courtesy Chris Park