Premier Cricket – Round 14

 

by Mic Rees

Eight of the nine Round 14 Premier Cricket matches were wrapped up on Saturday. Four teams achieved outright victories, one was completed on the first day of the scheduled two day fixture. Here’s a quick look at what went on.

Dandenong (145) completed a rare outright inside one day dismissing Essendon (55 & 66) twice on the first Saturday of Round 14. The visitors won the toss and batted first at Shepley Oval, James Wilcock (5/24) making a mess of the Bombers first dig. Only two batsmen Howell & Patton (13 each) reached double figures. Lou Cameron (4/48) restored some hope, the Panthers innings lasting a mere 38.2 overs with Liam Dawson (53) the batting hero. Unfortunately Cameron’s good work counted for nought when the batsmen failed for a second time, losing their last 6 wickets for 10 runs to be all out for 66. Matt Wilcocks (5/9) was the Dandy destroyer. The Bombers inept performance with the willow overshadowed Dandenong’s Darren Dempsey outstanding achievement of becoming just the sixth man to reach the 10,000 run milestone in the 106 season history of District/Premier cricket. Dempsey, who made his senior debut in season 1994/95, joined a select group that includes Warren Ayres (15,277), Gary Watts (12,933), John Scholes (12,693), Jack Ryder (12, 677) & Peter McAlister (11,893). The 15 runs he scored take his 260 game total to 10,012.

Camberwell (5/210 dec & 6/172) defeated Melbourne (95 & 5/286 dec) outright to inflict a third consecutive home defeat on the MCC. The Magpies first day hero was Andrew Fekete (7/28 inc a hat trick). It was the third time Fekete had taken seven wickets in an inning in senior Premier Cricket. He now has 29 wickets for the 2011/12 season. Simon Hill (70) and Tom Rickarby (60) helped Camberwell knock up the required runs, and more, the visitors declaring at their overnight total of 5/210.   The Demons second innings was headlined by Andrew Kent (95) & Michael Hill (118), the pair adding 190 for the second wicket to set the visitors a victory target of 172. Camberwell duly saluted losing 6 wickets in the process. Mick McClean (51) top scored for the Magpies who now sit comfortably inside the top eight.

Nathan Pilon (143) scored his tenth Premier Cricket century to lead Carlton (7/327 dec) on Day 1 at Monash University. The Blues’ efforts were more than enough as Hawthorn (125 & 93) crashed twice on Day two never looking likely to challenge. Simon Keen (5/33), his first “fivefor” since joining the Blues from Sydney club Bankstown at the start of this season, wrecked the Hawks first innings. Tom Smyth (5/18) captured career best figures in Hawthorn’s second innings. The home side batted one short in their second attempt when captain David Alleyne was unable to bat due to sustaining a calf injury earlier in the day.

After trailing on the first innings Northcote (84 & 2/228) completed a “reverse” outright over Melbourne University (3/87 dec & 157). An unbroken third wicket partnership of 170 between Ben Peake (88no) & Jarrod Carlson (94no) allowed Northcote to declare their second innings and set Uni a target of 225 runs for maximum points. The Students fell 68 runs short of victory. Ben Holt (3/43) & Joshua Sundberg (3/42) helping the Dragons to back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Scott Sanders (33) the best for the Students.

Frankston (5/163 dec) had little difficulty in passing Footscray Edgewater (160), the victory moving the Heat into second place on the table. James Miler and John Holland both took 3 wickets in the Dogs first innings, the visitors Greg Sheehan (57) and Shane Jones (44) the only batsmen to offer much resistance on the first day in what was a poor Bulldog batting display. Sam Wiese (53) top scored for Frankston in their innings, the Dogs (3/57) when time ran out the second afternoon.

At Toorak Park Richmond (320) inflicted only the second loss of the 2011/12 campaign on high flying Prahran (252). Cameron White (147) and Dan Sartori (60) starred with the bat for the Tigers, Paul Sealey (5/72) superb for the Two Blues. The Prahran pursuit started poorly losing their first three wickets for seven runs. Bryce McGain (63) and Neil Schlittler (56) were the best with the willow in an otherwise forgetful day for the home side. Matt Shimmell took three wickets for the Tigers who are now certain of a place in the finals in what will be their first appearance in the PC First XI post season for nine seasons.

Andrew McGuiness (100) and Peter Handscomb (86) led St Kilda (6/258 dec & 5/135) to first innings points over Geelong (238 & 6/225 dec) the Cats suffering their first loss since mid November. Despite a phenomenal contribution from Aaron Finch (168) the Cats bats failed to impress. Luke Muller (72) and Jacob Thorne (59) led the way in Geelong’s second innings, the visitors setting St Kilda a difficult task of scoring 206 runs in their second turn at the crease for an unlikely outright result. The Saints were 5/135 when stumps were drawn.

At Schramms Reserve Clive Rose (70) led all scorers in a disappointing Casey (158) first innings against Fitzroy Doncaster, who were cruising to victory at 1/103. They collapsed losing 8/51 to  slump to 9/154 still a boundary (and a bit) short of victory after Ashley Perera (4/32) tore through the home sides middle order.  Jon Fagg (12no) saw the Lions (9/163) safely home, thus ending the Bloods 6 game winning streak.  It didn’t end there as Casey declared at 6/131 in their second innings leaving Fitzroy Doncaster 15 overs to reach the 127 runs required to gain a desperately needed outright win. They fell an agonising 3 runs short, Perera (3/52) taking the bowling honours for a second time.

At Russell Lucas Oval James Damjanovski (52) top scored for North Melbourne (191), Ringwood’s Blair Allan (5/33) had his best day ever with the ball. As has been the case all season long David A King (53) kept Ringwood (171) competitive, receiving some assistance from Gavin Kellar (34) and bugger all from anyone else. King has scored 825 runs at an average of 63.4 in what has been undoubtedly his “career year”. Chris Maranteli (5/52) did the damage for the Roos, North celebrating their second win in three starts.

With two rounds remaining in the 2011/12 home and away season the top eight is as follows: Carlton (61), Frankston Peninsula (53), Prahran (50), Richmond (48), Geelong (47), MCC (43), Dandenong (43) and Camberwell (42)

 

Comments

  1. John Butler says

    Mic, with regard to Alleyne’s situation, has the ‘no runner’ rule been applied to all levels?

    Cam White couldn’t take that form into the shield game. It’s been a disappointing personal season for him.

  2. Hello John.

    PC website suggests Alleyne tore his calf muscle. Ouch ! Obviously wasn’t able to get out to the crease.

    I believe Cam White’s ton for the Tigers was his first in any grade/form of cricket since early 2010. Wasn’t too bad in the first innings of the match v SA, a couple of blokes on radio were talking him up but he failed in the second dig.

    MCR

  3. Mic

    Watched the Lions v Swans game. Swans did well to make 15 on a soft wicket and Fitzroy looked home overnight but exciting hour of play and right up until Fitzroy got the winning runs it could have gone either way. Gutsy delaration set up an exciting finish and if Swans had grabbed a runout chance in last over it would have been 8 down with 4 balls to go. Great effort by both teams to make it a very interesting day of cricket.

    On a side night one of the strangest things ever on a cricket field when unmpries stopped play 30 mins in and made the fielders search the square to find all the pegs that had been left in the ground

  4. Jack – Are the officails keeping count of how many nails were “banged in” to keep the covers on ?

    Pedantic mob aren’t they !

    The Lions have been a little unlucky on a few occasions in 11/12. Fell 6 runs short of the Dogs 300+ total just before Xmas and got even closer to full points last week. Add 10 points and they’re knocking on the door of the Top 8.

    MCR

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