Premier Cricket Preview – Round 8

Hopefully our match starved Premier Cricketers will take the field this weekend. Round 8 is a Saturday/Sunday (3rd & 4th December) fixture. The heavy rains that hitMelbourne over the previous two weekends sabotaged Round 7,Geelong v Casey South Melbourne the only game to get a start on either of the past two Saturdays.

 

It ain’t worth much, but here’s a brief look at this weekends games.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

St Kilda (11th) 11pts V Prahran (5th) 19pts – Junction Oval St Kilda

2011/12 StK LWLLLWD P’ran TWWWWLD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Toorak Park Prahran

St Kilda 9/247 (Quiney 107, McGain 6/55) def Prahran 107 (Seymour66, Cleary 6/28)

If you’re within cooee of the beautiful Junction Oval this weekend you could do a lot worse than pop in for an hour. The strong St Kilda batting line up includes Handscomb (187/93.5), Rummans (199/33.17), and Russell (176/35.2). Rob Quiney is absent due to State team duties. The Steve’s – De Bolfo (244/81.33) & Seymour (170 runs/28.33)  along with Daniel Salpietro (157/31.4) and Neil Schlittler (128/32) have been amongst the runs for the Two Blues and will provide a stern test for the Saints attack, James Muirhead (14wkts at 19.07) the standout thus far. A loss would put the hosts two wins outside the top eight, and make the task of qualifying for the finals just a little harder. I like the sound of that. TIP: Prahran – fingers crossed.

 

Dandenong (8th) 17pts V Footscray Edgewater (10th) 15pts – Shepley Oval Dandenong

2011/12 D’nong WWWLWLD F’scray Edge WLLDWWD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ MG Hughes Oval Footscray

F’scray Edge 8/190 (Kight 48, Butterfield 3/38) def D’nong 189 (Hales 50, Hollins 6/34)

2011 has been a superb year for the Dandenong Cricket Club. Peter Siddle and James Pattinson opening the bowling forAustraliain the current Gabba Test is a marvellous achievement, one that complements the second Premier Cricket pennant the Panthers procured in March. It keeps getting better for Dandy with Darren Pattinson a chance to play this weekend. Footscray have returned from their previous two trips to Shepley with the points.  TIP: Dogs might have enough to prevail over a depleted Dandenong.

 

Fitzroy Doncaster (7th) 17pts V Melbourne University (17th) 4pts – Schramms Reserve #1 Doncaster

2011/12 F Don WWWWLLD Melb Uni LLLWLLD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ University Main Oval

Melb Uni 7/226 (Keely 81, Dickson 2/36) def Fitzroy D’caster 158 (Walsh 34, Kennedy 3/27)

36% of the Lions 1164 runs for the season come from the bat of Lloyd Mash (420). That’s pretty impressive. If the Students knock over the former Victorian rep for a reasonable score they’re a chance. They probably won’t. TIP: Fitzroy/Donny

 

Melbourne (4th) 20pts V Northcote (14th) 10pts – The Albert Ground Melbourne

2011/12 MCC LLWWWWD N’cote LLLLWWD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Bill Lawry Oval Northcote

Northcote 135 (Wildsmith 40, Dale 3/20) def MCC 124 (Gotch 43, Hoare 4/23)

Rob Cooper, Simon Dart (Melbourne) and Ben Peake (Northcote) all scored tons last time out. Aaron Crispe is the only bowler from either team with double digits wickets. Combine that earth shattering information with the likelihood of another Albert Ground autobahn and whoever bats first will need a score of 320+ to feel confident. TIP: Melbourne – Andrew Kent to break out of his early season slump with a big score

 

Hawthorn Monash University (18th) 0pts V  Frankston Peninsula (3rd) 20pts – Monash University Oval#1

2011/12 HMU LLLLLLD FP WWLWLWD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ AHButlerOval Frankston

Frank Pen 5/272 (Jewell 70, Bird 3/56) def HMU 6/173 (Tomey 78, Miller 3/18)

Will the Hawks break through for their first win in 13 months? No. This game could get ugly, early. The Heat’s Matt Chasemore is having a fine run with both bat (254 runs @ 51.8) and ball (14 wkts @ 11.36). TIP:FrankstonPeninsula

 

Casey South Melbourne (15th) 7pts  V Carlton (1st)  34pts – Casey Fields #4 Cranbourne

2011/12 CSM TLWLLLDCarltonWWWWWWD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Princes Park Oval 1 Carlton

Casey SM 8/191 (Rose 47, Austin 3/44) defCarlton187 (Peter-Budge 107, Rose 5/19)

Carltonhas lost only 27 wickets for the whole season. Not quite sure what that means. Keen, Pillon & Hancock have scored more than 200 runs this campaign whilst Millard, Salm & Austin have 10 or more wickets apiece for the all conquering Blues. CSM’s efforts with the willow have been woeful; the 841 runs scored ranks 17th in the competition, only the Hawks have fewer (823). Rose & Perera, 14 & 13 wickets respectively, have done the Swans proud. TIP:Carlton’s unbeaten run to continue. Only good teams win ‘em all -Carlton are a good team.

 

Essendon (6th) 17pts V Geelong (13th) 10pts – Windy Hill Essendon

2011/12 Ess’don WLWWWLD G’long WWLDLLD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Geelong Cricket Ground Geelong

Geelong4/176 (Elliot 74, Reid 2/59) def Essendon 173 (Fletcher 55, Walerys 3/24)

The 2011/12 Cats are an interesting clowder. They’ve scored 1233 runs in total and trail only Dandenong (1385) & the MCC (1332) in that department. Only the Magpies (827) have conceded fewer runs than the Cat attack (850). I saw the Bombers a couple of weeks ago and they were atrocious, too much was left to too few – say that with a mouthful of marbles. TIP:Geelong

 

Ringwood (12th) 11pts V Richmond (2nd) 20pts – Russell Lucas Oval Ringwood

2011/12 R’wood WLLLLWD R’mond LWWLWWD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Punt Road Oval Richmond

Richmond4/154 (Delmont 95, Gale 2/20) def Ringwood 153 (Holland52, McDonald 3/29)

Ringwood are sitting in 12th spot. I reckon they’re better than that. Season 2002/03 was the last time the Tigers played First XI finals. I’m surprised to see them sitting in second position, but this squad may be good enough to end the finals drought. TIP: Ringwood, because it’s at home

 

Camberwell Magpies (9th) 15pts v North Melbourne (16th) 5pts –Camberwell Sports Ground Camberwell

2011/12 C’well LWWDLWD NM LLLDWLD

Last time they met: Round 13 2010/11 Saturday January 22 2011 – 50 over @ Junction Oval St Kilda

C’well 2/160 (Hill 82) defNorth Melbourne159 (McMinn 47, Pearson 5/25)

The Pies score few runs (974) and concede even fewer (827). Does that suggest this match will be a low scoring affair? Probably. Matt Love, with a pair of half centuries, has been consistent for North since his return from the “Subbies”. TIP: Camberwell comfortably.

 

Comments

  1. John Butler says

    Mic, I remember seasons like this down in the less rarefied air of the Federal League/VTCA.

    Always very hard to regain and maintain momentum on and off the field.

    Being the one game to get on can be a real bonus.

    Cheers

  2. John – Did the Federal League Cricket competition have, at some stage, an affiliation with the Football competition of the same name ? If so it wouldn’t have been a place for the faint-hearted.

    Being the only game to get a start can win/loose batting or bowling aggregates and averages.

    Could be a bit of rain this weekend.

    MCR

  3. John Butler says

    Yes Mic, an offshoot of the footy comp.

    Cricket being a much more genteel sport, it wasn’t as ‘lively’ as the footy. But it had its moments.

    Something about very close neighbours in a small area enhancing the rivalries.

    Cold up here in Ballarat this morning. Just the sort of morning you don’t want an early stinger in slips.

    Cheers

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