Premier Cricket Preview: Round 15

Round 15, the penultimate home & away round of Premier Cricket for season 2011/12 will be played over both days of the upcoming weekend Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th of February. A preview follows, but prior to that a shameless plug.

 

Footscray Edgewater Cricket Club is holding its annual past players function at the Mervyn Gregory Hughes Oval, from 1.30pm this Sunday 26 February, coinciding with the second day of the Dogs v Dragons game. All former players & official are welcome.  Hope to see you there (M G Hughes Oval – Farnsworth Avenue, Footscray – Melways ref Map 42 C2)

 

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Richmond (4th) 48pts v Frankston Peninsula (2nd) 53pts @ Central Reserve Waverley

2011/12 R’mond LWWLWWDWDWLWWW Frank Pen WWLWLWDWDLWWWW

Last time they met: Round 8 2009/10 Sat 28 & Sun 29th November 2009 @AH Butler Oval Frankston

Frank Pen 0/0 drew R’mond 201 (McDonald 71, Groves 4/46)

The Tigers are coming off a superb win last week against a red hot Prahran. Cam White could be a finals “wildcard” – capable of a big score, his leggies adding a little something to assist Shimell, Wise & McDonald. Frankston’s attack is the best in the comp, Miller, Boland and Groves have more than 20 wickets each, Chasemore & Benbow 19 apiece, and let’s not forget Jon Holland who’s pretty handy. A query remains regarding the Heat’s ability to post a big score. Matt Chasemore ([email protected]) and Luke Walker ([email protected]) are the only batsmen with more than 300 runs to their name in 11/12. Hopefully the weather won’t affect what promises to be a marvellous contest. TIP: Frankston

 

Footscray Edgewater (12th) 24.65pts v Northcote (14th) 22pts @ MG Hughes Oval Footscray

2011/12 F’scray Edge WLLDWWDLDWLWLL N’cote LLLLWWDLDLLLWW

Last time they met: Round 10 2008/09 Sat 20 December 2008 – 50 overs @M G Hughes Oval

F’scray Edge 7/271 (Hastings 78, Doyle 2/32) def N’cote 161 (Alleyne 47, Duckworth 4/39)

Ordinary effort from the Footscray batsmen last round, their flickering finals hopes flat lined as a result. The Dragons have saluted in their previous two encounters and will fancy their chances of completing a hat trick of February victories. Young Bulldogs Travis Dean ([email protected]) & Dylan Kight ([email protected]) have struggled in post Xmas period. Expect one, or both, to star this weekend. TIP: Footscray

 

North Melbourne (15th) 17pts v Melbourne University (17th) 10pts @ Junction Oval St Kilda  

2011/12 NM LLLDWLDLDLLWLW Melb Uni LLLWLLDLLLLLLL

Last time they met: Round 6 2009/10 Sat 31 October & Sat 7 November 2009 @ JJ Holland Park Kensington

Melb Uni 259 (Williams 81, Manser 4/43) def N Melb 111 (Salpietro 25, Kennedy 3/31) & 1/65

Melbourne Uni held a first innings lead against Northcote, and then lost outright. They haven’t experienced the thrill of victory since the Round 4 triumph against Casey in mid-October. That’s sad. Two out of three ain’t bad as far as the Roos are concerned, they’ll end their home campaign with a win in this one. TIP: North Melbourne

 

Ringwood (16th) 16pts  v Dandenong (7th) 43pts v @ Russell Lucas Oval Ringwood

2011/12 R’wood WLLLLWDLLLWLLL D’nong WWWLWLDWDLWWLW

Last time they met: Round 7 2009/10 Sat 14 & 21 November 2009 @Russell Lucas Oval Ringwood

R’wood 306 (Stray 91, Fairbanks 3/45) def Dandenong 162 (Forsyth 52, D McKay 3/27)

James Pattinson rolled the arm over in the futures league the other day. Hopefully he’ll do so this weekend for Dandy. The Panthers didn’t require his services (as a bowler) last time out, making an awful mess of the Dons and cementing a finals spot in the process. Ringwood’s David A King has scored 825 runs (ave 64.3) thus far and is an outside chance to become only the 9th player to score 1,000 runs over the course of a Premier/District cricket season. Otherwise it’s been a forgettable spring and summer for the Rams. TIP: Dandenong

 

Essendon (13th) 23pts  v Fitzroy Doncaster (10th) 29pts @ Windy Hill Essendon

2011/12 Ess’don WLWWWLDLLLLLWL F Don WWWWLLDWDLLLLW

Last time they met: Round 6 2009/10 Sat 31 October & Sat 7 November 2009 @Schramms Reserve Doncaster

Ess’don 8/308 dec (Dickinson 66, Dickson 3/43) & 2/46 def F Don 202 (Dickson 73, Cameron 6/53)

Fitzroy Donny broke through for their first win in 2012 last weekend and, with a little luck, it could’ve been an outright. The Lions were desperate for 10 points, alas it’s a case of too little too late, with their finals hopes dissipating a few weeks earlier. Essendon’s effort with the willow at Shepley a fortnight ago was diabolical. They appear to be a better team than their record in 2011/12. Looks can be deceiving. TIP: Fitzroy Doncaster

 

Camberwell Magpies (8th) 42 pts v Hawthorn Monash University (18th) 5.95pts @ Camberwell Sports Ground

C’well LWWDLWDWLWLLWW HMU LLLLLLDLDTWLLL

Last time they met: Round 8 2009/10 Sat 28 & Sun 29 November 2009 @Monash Uni Oval #1

HMU 177 (Henry 66, Pearson 4/48) drew C’well 0/7

Good times/Bad times last weekend for Camberwell. The joy of an outright at the Albert and Andrew Fekete making his Victorian debut in the 50 over game on Saturday was tempered somewhat when Fekete’s season came to an end after suffering a fractured foot at the end of his 10 over stint at the MCG. Whilst his absence won’t stop the Pies cruising to victory this weekend he’ll be sorely missed come finals time. David Alleyne’s season is over after tearing a calf muscle and the Hawks will struggle to cover the loss of their captain. TIP: Camberwell

 

Geelong (5th) 47pts v Prahran (3rd) 50pts @ Geelong Cricket Ground

2011/12 G’long WWLLLDDWWWWWWL P’ran TWWWWLDWDWWWWL

Last time they met: Round 12 2009/10 Sat 16 & 23 January 2010 @ Geelong Cricket Ground

P’ran 9/246 dec (Wild 51) & 5/100 (Murphy 50) def G’long 86 (Huckett 5/34) & 259 (Shanahan 118, Huckett 4/84)

These sides will want to atone for disappointing last start efforts –Prahran’s top order folded against the Tigers and the Cats went down to a mediocre St Kilda outfit.  Both teams should have access to state reps, Rogers (Prahran) & Finch (Geelong), and whilst they’ve been a bit scratchy at Shield level Finch’s last innings at PC level (168 v St Kilda) was marvellous. Despite having already nailed down finals berths neither team will want to drop two in a row so close to the finals. Home ground might swing it in the Cats favour. TIP: Geelong

 

Casey South Melbourne (9th) 33pts v Melbourne (6th) 43 pts @ Casey Field #4 Cranbourne

2011/12 CSM TLWLLLDDWWWWWL MCC LLWWWWDWWLWLWL

Last time they met: Round 9 2009/10 Sat 5 & 12 December 2009 @The Albert Ground

CSM 5/345 (Best 125, Sturrock 3/106) def MCC 6/344 (Cooper 140, Wright 3/26)

Michael Hill’s ton last week for the Melbourne was a sliver of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy fortnight. I can’t remember the last time the Dee’s got rolled outright at the Albert Ground prior to last weekend. Congratulations to Clive Rose on his Victorian debut last Saturday, a worthy recipient of state honours following his terrific performances for the Bloods this season. On ya Rosey! It’s do or die for Casey who couldn’t have picked a worse time to have their five game winning streak snapped.  Surely a batting line-up that includes Cooper, Kent, Dart, McDonald, Hill & Keath could fail as miserably as the MCC’s first inning performance against Camberwell two weeks ago, could it? TIP: Melbourne

 

 

 

Carlton (1st) 61pts v St Kilda (11th) 27pts @ Princes Park Oval #1

2011/12 C’ton WWWWWWDDWWLWLW StK LWLLLWDLDWWLLW

Last time they met: Round 10 2008/09 Sat December 20 2008 – 50 overs @Princes Park Oval #1

C’ton 7/206 (Gulbis 86, Beer 2/24) def StK 152 (Beer 32, Welsford 3/15)

The Sunday tabloid suggested St Kilda, following a surprise victory over Geelong a day earlier, remained a chance to play First XI finals in 11/12. Maximum points are required against this weekend’s opponent, top of the table Carlton, followed by an outright win against an inform Camberwell.  Who needs a cheer squad when you’ve got the press onside? The Blues got back on track with an outright victory last weekend. Pilon, Keen & Hancock should handle the opposition attack quite comfortably and Smyth, Austin, Salm and Manser form an attack that will knock over the flaky St Kilda batting line up. TIP: Carlton

 

 

 

 

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