Premier Cricket – Round 11 Review

 

by Mic Rees

Whilst it has taken eleven rounds, all First XI teams have now experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat as Carlton suffered the blues and at long last you can confidently say they’re a happy team at Hawthorn.

At Mervyn G Hughes Oval, Hawthorn Monash University (9/227 cc) won for the first time since Derby Day 2010, edging out Footscray Edgewater (223). Leading the Hawks charge were skipper David Alleyne (87), Kumar Sarna (57) and 200 game veteran Craig Entwistle (40). Shane Jones (4/29) was best with the ball for the Bullies. In response the hosts were cruising at 1/94, but the departure of Nick Oldridge (26) triggered a collapse, the Dogs losing 8/105 to slump to 9/199, still 29 short of victory. No’s 10 & 11 Brad Robertson and Andrew McCammond took their side to within five runs before McCammond was dismissed, the Hawks hanging on to end a barren run of 434 days without a win. Dean Russ (69) top scored for Footscray, Tom Collett (4/36) and Entwistle (4/26) the bowling heroes for Hawthorn.

Carlton (218) suffered its first loss of 2011/12, their unbeaten run coming to an end at the hands of Dandenong (4/258) at Princes Park. With his second century in four matches Tom Donnell (139no) was the Panthers star, and was well supported by Darren Dempsey (58) and James Nanopoulos (34). Nick Ross (65) led the Blues scorers. WA recruit Liam Dawson (3/42) on debut was best for the reigning premiers. It’s Dandenong’s second win over the Blues at Princes Park in less than 12 months, the Panthers knocked Carlton from last seasons title race eliminating them at the Semi Final stage in March.

In the match of the day at Central Reserve Waverley, Richmond (186) slumped early to be 6/79 before the consistent Andrew Delmont (74) and Ben Torney (45) added 59 for the seventh wicket, providing the hosts a reasonable total to defend. Nick Quinn and Daniel Worrall took three wickets each for the MCC. Despite losing openers Kent (3) Cooper (7) early, the Demons cruised to victory needing only 36.2 of their allocated 50 overs to reach the Tiger target, young guns Michael Hill (74) and Alex Keath (68no) sharing in a 106 run partnership for the for the third wicket.

Prahran (7/289) moved into third place, easily accounting for Northcote (128) at the Bill Lawry Oval. Steve Seymour (74), Neil Schlittler (70) and Chris Rogers (59) did the damage for the Two Blues. Steve Taylor (47) flew the flag for the Dragons, 39 year old Bryce McGain (3/39) was the chief wicket taker for the visitors.

St Kilda (2/303) accounted for Melbourne University (225) at University Oval. An opening stand of 269 from openers Peter Handscomb (146) and Dan Forbes (105) put the result beyond doubt. Scott Sanders (65) and Will Shute (64) were the best for the Students, Forbes (3/20) backed up his superb effort with the bat.

Frankston Peninsula (5/252) rolled North Melbourne (174) at the Junction Oval. Matt Chasemore (55), Ben Hillard (54) and Nick Jewell (52) got amongst the runs for the Heat. The Roos were never in the hunt and were eventually dismissed in the 45th over with Eric Ghasperidis (44) and James Damjanovski (42) the best in an ordinary effort with the wood. Scott Boland, Jim Miller & Jack Benbow took three wickets apiece for Frankston. With Hawthorn Monash Uni saluting, North now sits at the bottom of the ladder.

Joe Loorham (90no) & Michael Vandort (68) starred for Ringwood (4/274) who won their first game since Round 6 crushing Camberwell (149). It was a pretty bleak day for the Pies, Tom Rickarby (64) the only Camberwell batsman to keep the scorers busy. Two wickets apiece to Topp, Nicholls, Holland & Walsh for the Rams.

Geelong (224) made it four wins on end, the home side accounting for Fitzroy Doncaster (160) to consolidate a spot in the top eight. Matt Harrison (89) led the Cats bats, Peter Dickson (5/33) the Lions’ king with the ball. Marc Carson (4/57) knocked over the top of the Fitzroy Doncaster batting line up, Jac Augustin (38) top scoring in what was an extremely disappointing day for the visitors who haven’t won since early December.

Captain Ben Fletcher (81) headlined Essendon’s (6/231) at Cranbourne. The Bombers would’ve fancied their chances, however a 115 run partnership for the second wicket from Jake Best (96) and Rohan Blandford (70) set the hosts on their way, Casey South Melbourne (6/232) passing the target with nine balls to spare. The Bloods have gone “three-for-three” since early December and remain an outside chance to see finals action in mid March.

After 11 rounds the top eight teams are Carlton (45) Melbourne (37), Prahran (34) Frankston & Geelong (31), Richmond (30), Dandenong (27) and Camberwell (26).

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Great work as always Mic.

    Was surprised to see Andrew McCammond’s name show up in your report. As someone who played at Albion with Andrew (a long long time ago!) in his junior days, I have always looked out in the Sunday and Monday papers to see how he’s fared down at Footscray each week. But I hadn’t seen his name in the Footscray 1sts for quite some time and had assumed he had either retired or was maybe gracefully entering middle-age by dropping down through the grades.

    Good to see him still giving Footscray-Edgewater great service.

  2. John Butler says

    An interesting round Mic.

    It will be interesting to see if Handscomb gets picked when the Shield resumes.

    If he doesn’t, there might be some other states chasing him.

  3. Gigs – Andrew is in the second phase of his FECC career. Debuted in 1999/00 and “retired” at the end of the 2008/09 season with 228 wickets to show for his sterling work.Not sure if he played in another comp in 09/10 & 10/11, he returned to Hughes Oval this season and has taken 15 wickets in 2011/12 at a cost of 20.67 per wkt. Next stop 250.

    A marvellous servant of the club. Turned 33 years of age in December, he might go around again in 2012/13.

    John – Handscomb’s efforts over the past two seasons (2011/12 395 runs @79.00. 10/11 610 runs @ 33.89) are terrific. He’s still only 20 (born: 26.4.91).

    I can’t see the Vics qualifying for the final. Do you think they might make a tough call on Rogers, thank him for the past four seasons and pick kid(s) ?

    MCR

  4. John Butler says

    Mic, I reckon it might be easier to slot Handscomb into the middle order to start with.

    If Rogers was to pull the pin, he is the logical replacement though.

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