Premier Cricket: Quarter Final Preview

It’s quarter finals time in Premier Cricket for season 2011/12. Matches will be played over both days of the upcoming weekend (Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 March). Here’s my preview (please disregard selections).

 

Carlton (1st) 71pts v Dandenong (8th) 43pts @ Princes Park #1 Carlton

Last 5 starts: C’ton LWLWW D’nong WLWLL

Last time they met: Round 11 2011/12 Sat 7 January 2012 – 50 overs @Princes Park #1

D’nong 4/258 (T Donnell 139no, D Dempsey 58 C Salm 2/47) def C’ton 218 (N Ross 65, L Dawson 3/42)

The 2011/12 Carlton “story” reads as follows: Four batsmen (Hancock, Pilon, McCormick & Keen) have scored more than 400 runs, and six bowlers (Smyth, Austin, Manser, Salm, Millard & Keen) have taken 15 or more wickets. Three weeks ago it chased down St Kilda’s competitive 313 run target without losing a wicket, last week it lost just two in pursuit of Prahran’s 230. They should be living certainties to advance to the semi final stage next week. One problem. The Blues quarter final opponent is their bogey side of recent times, reigning premier Dandenong. Princes Park holds no fear for the Panthers having saluted on both of their previous two visits to Royal Parade, including last seasons Semi Final. Dandy has lost three of its last four outings, its sole victory the remarkable outright-in-a-day against Essendon. Neither of the Pattinson boys are available this weekend, but the lionhearted Peter Siddle has been named in the squad. He, along with Donnell, Forsyth, Dempsey, Nanopoulos, Sweeney and Wilcock will make life difficult for the hosts. The eighth ranked side has eliminated the minor premier twice in the last four seasons, and despite form, home ground advantage (?) and law of averages favouring the Blues, it wouldn’t be a massive shock to see Dandenong advance to the final four. TIP: Carlton

 

 

Frankston Peninsula (4th) 53pts v Geelong (5th) 52pts @ AH Butler Oval Frankston

Last 5 starts: Frank Pen WWWLL G’long WWLLW

Last time they met: Round 16 2011/12 Sat 10 March 2012 – 50 overs @ AH Butler Oval

G’long 2/71 (L Buchanan 53) def Frank P’sula 70 (J Hart 4/22, J Reed 3/17)

Frankston have one score in excess of 250 in the post Christmas period, that against lowly North Melbourne in early January. They hit rock bottom last weekend scoring just 70. Matt Chasemore (737/56.69 ave) & Luke Walker (346/43.25) appear to be the only batsmen capable of troubling the Cats. Jeremy Hart (47 wkts/18.26 ave) is the competitions leading wicket taker. He took four wickets last weekend, ably assisted by Jake Reed who grabbed three. Geelong’s batting has been inconsistent in recent weeks. Good news for the visitors is Aaron Finch, whilst having an ordinary season at state level, has two centuries at club level in 2011/12. Victoria’s failure to reach the Shield final will sees his return to PC this weekend. Meyrick Buchanan made a ton for the Victorian Second XI in a mid week fixture, and whilst the Cats have only three batsmen averaging 30 plus for the campaign, they seem the more likely of the two sides to post a reasonable enough score to bowl at. Despite its woes with the willow the Heat attack, on paper, is the best in the competition. Any team that can call on Groves, Miller, Benbow and state reps Holland and Boland demands respect from its opponent. This weekend’s contest will be a lot closer than last Saturday’s debacle but I expect the Cats to prevail. TIP:  Geelong

 

Richmond (3rd) 54pts v Melbourne (6th) 49pts @ Central Reserve Waverley

Last 5 starts: R’mond WWWWL MCC LWLWL

Last time they met: Round 11 2011/12 Sat 7 January 2012 – 50 overs @ Central Reserve

MCC 3/187 (M Hill 74, A Keath 68no) def R’mond 186 (A Delmont 72, N Quinn 3/24, D Worrall 3/28)

The Tigers first season at Central Reserve has been a memorable one, leaping from a disappointing 15th position at the completion of 2010/11 they finished with the “bronze” at the end of the regular season. They’ve won the right to host a final in the first week of the post season as a result, their first finals appearance since 2002/03. The Tigers success has based on TEAM – a dozen players scoring half centuries, Shimell, Wise & McDonald capturing more than 20 wickets each. Melbourne has dropped their previous four matches at the Albert Ground so they’ll be relieved this weekend’s clash is away. Andrew McDonald returns for the battle with the Tigers. His inclusion strengthens an already impressive batting line up that includes Kent (783/52.50), Cooper (592/39.47), Dart (438/43.80) and Hill (212/35.33), his medium pace bowling will complement Quinn, Gilmour and Worrall. Flip of the coin, I’ll take the MCC TIP: Melbourne

 

Prahran (2nd) 56pts v Camberwell Magpies (7th) 48pts @ Toorak Park

Last 5 starts: P’ran WWLWL C’well LWWWL

Last time they met: Round 5 2010/11 30 October 2010 – 50 overs @ Toorak Park

C’well 6/65 (B McGain 2/0) drew P’ran 3/26 (Pietersz 2/19)

Prahran’s recent form has been a tad patchy, dropping two of their last three contests. Apart from this recent hiccup the Two Blues have enjoyed a superb summer claiming the T20 and one day competitions. Now for the third and final leg of the trifecta. Plenty of runs (300 +) from the bats of Schlittler, De Bolfo, Murphy, Salpietro, Seymour, Wild and Rogers. No problems with the ball – Seymour, Sealey, Adams and McGain have more than 20 wickets each. Their time may have arrived.

Camberwell return to senior finals for the first time since 2006/07. Simon Hill (613 runs/40.87) and Tom Rickarby (601 runs/40.07) have enjoyed productive seasons in 2011/12. Six other players have reached fifty over the course of the campaign. Unfortunately Andrew Fekete (29 wkts/23.03) fractured a foot whilst making his debut for Victoria last month and won’t be part of the weekends activities. He’s irreplaceable, and I can’t see the Maggies season continuing past this weekend.

TIP: Prahran

 

Comments

  1. John Butler says

    Blues play a practice match at Prinny Park on Sunday.

    Carlton and Dandenong at No 1.

    Might just have to venture to the big smoke.

    Thanks Mic

  2. John.

    The Carlton v Nth Melb PM starts coincides with the scheduled lunch break on Sunday. The footy will finish about the same time the final session will start. Should be a very entetrtaining afternoon.

    Not a bad way to spend your Ssabbath.

    BTW – Forgot to mention a few returning Tigers in Sheridan and Cam White. Handy inclusions, I’ll stick with the establishment.

    MCR

  3. Geelong; what ever happened to C Peake? He made a triple ton at junior level back in the 1990’s, but never set the world on fire for the Vics. He’d only be in his early thirties now. To your knowlede, is he stil playing around the traps?

  4. Good afternoon Glen.

    Clinton Peake debuted for Geelong in 1993/94 and retired from PC at the end of the 2009/10 season.

    He scored 8855 runs at an average of 42 and a bit, and took 141 wkts at a cost of 27 and a half runs per victim. His top score in PC was 171. I reckon more than a few of his centuries came against the Dogs, just couldn’t get him out.

    Superb club cricketer didn’t get much of a chance at Shield level. I believe he’s spent the last few seasons in the local Geelong competition.

    MCR

  5. Ta Micheal. His triple ton, was that Australian under 17’s VS Indian under 17’s, or something similar?

    Glen!

  6. C Peake plays for South Barwon in the Geelong Cricket Association.
    (A fairly dominant season, too!)

    Cheers
    Smokie.

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