Premier Cricket: Round 9 Preview

Round 9 of Premier Cricket is another Saturday/Sunday affair (Dec 10 & 11). Clubs may have access to their state representatives. Good for them.

 

Rain is forecast for both days. Anyone surprised?

 

Here’s a preview of this weekends games.

 

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Richmond (3rd) 26pts V Dandenong (7th) 23pts @Central Reserve Waverley

2011/12 R’mond LWWLWWDW D’nong WWWLWLDW

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Shepley Oval Dandenong

Dandenong 260 (Thomas 140, Wise 3/38) defRichmond222 (McDonald 51, Fairbanks 3/40)

Both sides chased down big targets to record marvellous victories last Sunday. Plenty of heavy scorers will be on display at Central Reserve this weekend- Manou, Sheridan, Carters & Cameron White for the home eleven, the visitors relying on Forsyth, Donnell (both notched tons last week) and the veteran Darren Dempsey for runs. The Tigers have a few more options with the ball – Shimmell, Mattarazo and Wise have ten or more wickets thus far, Brenton McDonald and White (five in Queensland’s 1st innings in the recently completed Shield match) support the quicks. James Wilcock, with 13 wickets, is the best performed Dandy bowler in 11/12. TIP:Richmond. This could be a quarter/semi final preview.

 

Frankston Peninsula (2nd) 26pts V St Kilda (12th) 11pts @ AH Butler Oval Frankston

2011/12 – FP WWLWLWDW – StK LWLLLWDL

Last time they met: 2010/11 Q/Final Sat March 12 & Sun 13 March 2011 @ Junction Oval St Kilda

Frank Pen 183 (Chasemore 66, Cleary 6/56) def St Kilda 163 (Forbes 56, Miller 4/41)

When they last clashed, a quarter final in March, the 8th ranked Frankston rolled minor premier St Kilda to send them crashing out of the 2010/11 competition. Some casual observers of PC thought it unfair that the Saints campaign should come to such an inglorious end. I wasn’t one of them, their demise providing me with my highlight of the season. St Kilda welcome Rob Quiney back from state duties and Chris Simpson was good on debut taking five wickets. Frankston easily disposed of the Hawks last time out, skipper Chasemore’s century the highlight. The Heat attack includes Miller, Boland,Holland,Groves and when required, Chasemore. It might be too much for the flaky Saints batting line to handle, a feeble 138 all they could muster against Prahran last Sunday. TIP: More pain for St Kilda,FrankstonPeninsula should be too good.

 

Carlton (1st) 34pts V Essendon (9th) 17pts @ Princes Park Oval #1 Carlton

2011/12CarltonWWWWWWDD Ess’don WLWWWLDL

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Windy Hill

Carlton7/215 (Pilon 71, Cameron 3/43) def Essendon 160 (Wright 35, Austin 4/35) & 6/221 (Fletcher 128 no,Austin3/35)

Carltonburst out of the blocks, their lead at the top of the table blowing out to 14 points as recently as a fortnight ago. Two draws (one rain affected) from their previous two starts has reduced the gap between 1st and 2nd to 8 points. I doubt Keen & Pilon will go as cheaply (both got ducks) as they did last Sunday. The Bombers looked like contenders a month ago after stringing three wins in a row. They have nothing to show for their last three outings. Will the real ECC please stand up. TIP: Carlton.

 

Footscray Edgewater (11th) 15pts V  Fitzroy Doncaster (6th) 23pts @ M G Hughes Oval Footscray

2011/12 F’scray Edge WLLDWWDL – F Don WWWWLLDW

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Schramms Reserve,Doncaster

F’scray Edge 250 (Dean 85, Fagg 3/50) def F Don 179 (Dickson 92, B Robertson 3/37)

Lloyd Mash is the key. Get him cheaply and the Dogs are in the contest. Big ask, Mash (514 ave 85.6) is having a monster season. Add last weekend’s centurion Tormey & returning Victorian rep Maxwell and the hosts may spend a lot of their weekend chasing leather. Steve Duckworth’s first seven seasons of Premier Cricket were spent at Hughes Oval. He’ll be keen to impress against his old team. The news doesn’t get any better for a Footscray attack was flogged unmercifully at Shepley Oval last Sunday, the Lions are the 4th heaviest scoring team in the competition. Oh dear. TIP:  Fitzroy Doncaster – Peter Dickson (67 runs/9.6) is due for a big day out.

Melbourne University (17th) 4pts V Melbourne (4th) 26pts @ University Main Oval#1

2011/12 – Melb Uni LLLWLLDL – MCC LLWWWWDW

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ The Albert GroundMelbourne

MCC 9/367 (A McDonald 134, Kent 103, Nalesnyik 4/101) def Melb Uni 241 (Keely 62, A McDonald 5/41)

The MCC are unbeaten in their last six starts. Cooper, Dart & Kent have been amongst the runs in recent weeks and Steve Gilmour is taking wickets. Andrew McDonald will return from Shield duty. These factors suggest Uni could be in a spot of bother this weekend. Mark Simpson’s first ton in ten seasons was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable weekend/month/season for the Students. TIP:Melbourne, very easily.

 

North Melbourne (16th) 5pts V Prahran (5th) 25pts @ Junction Oval St Kilda

2011/12 NM LLLDWLDL Prahran TWWWWLDW

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Toorak Park Prahran

Prahran 9/335 (Salpietro 103, Marantelli 2/60) defNorth Melbourne111 (McMinn 58, McGain 3/21) & 8/195 (Stokes 46, McGain 4/62)

The second of back-to-back visits to the Junction Oval for Prahran, the Two Blues having no trouble in thrashing a woeful St Kilda last time out. Steve Seymour (206 runs/18 wickets) & North “old boy” Daniel Salpietro (252 runs/42) are having terrific campaigns. It’s difficult to see the Roos offering much resistance. With the exception of Carl Sandri (66), their efforts with the bat last weekend were disappointing, falling well short of the modest target set by the Pies. TIP: Prahran comfortably.

 

Camberwell Magpies (8th) 21pts V Casey South Melbourne (15th) 7pts @ Camberwell Sports Ground

2011/12 Camberwell LWWDLWDW CSM TLWLLLDD

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Casey Fields #4

Casey SM 201 (Wright 57, Roberts 3/33) def C’well 142 (Snell 62, Herrick 3/31) & 3/144 (Howell 53)

A vastly improved Casey South Melbourne came within one wicket of being the first team to roll ladder leaderCarltonlast start. Clive Rose has been in outstanding form for the Swans (148 runs & 17 wickets), and they’ll welcome back state reps Wade & Herrick. Camberwell are having a consistent season and sit just inside the top eight. They’ve allowed the least runs in competition, Fekete (13 wkts) & McNamara (11 wkts) the standout performers. TIP: CaseySouth Melbournedesperately require the points, I think they’ll salute for the first time in two months.

 

Geelong (10th) 16pts v Ringwood (13th) 11pts @ Geelong Cricket Ground

2011/12 G’long WWLLLDDW R’wood WLLLLWDL

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Russell Lucas Oval Ringwood

Geelong191 (Alford 68, Nicholls 3/29) def Ringwood 128 (DA King 42, Walerys 3/24) & 2/178 (Coghlan59 no,Carson2/29)

Geelongreturned to the winners list last weekend, Jeremy Hart the star with 5 wickets. He’s got 17 for the season. Aaron Finch smashed 159 in his last appearance for the Cats. They’d like him to produce something like that again this weekend. David A King (470/78.33) & Michael Topp (15 wkts) have been shining lights in what has been a less than satisfactory start to season 11/12 for the Rams. TIP:Geelong

 

Northcote (14th) 10pts V  Hawthorn Monash University (18th) 0pts @ Bill Lawry Oval Westgarth

2011/12 –   N’cote LLLLWWDL – HMU LLLLLLDL

Last time they met: Round 14 2010/11 Sat Jan 29 & Sun Jan 30 2011 @ Monash University Oval #1

Northcote 3/167 dec (Munro 69, Bird 2/68) def HMU 161 (Cookson 39, Doropoulos 3/44) & 2/46 (O’Shea 2/15)

Northcote would’ve been disappointed to setMelbournesuch a modest total (235) last time out. They weren’t disgraced and should be too good forHawthornMonashUniversity. HMU won their T20 match against Frankston on Wednesday night. Onya Hawks.  TIP: Northcote

 

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