The BPCA’s teams of the week
We pick our best elevens from the opening round of the Bellarine’s A1 and A2 competitions, with three bowlers from one club making the cut.
Welcome to the BPCA’s teams of the week.
Every Monday, this masthead will reveal the two best elevens based on performances across A1 and A2.
ROUND 2
A1
Ben Norgrove
Armstrong Creek
Getting the Titans off to a strong start, Armstrong Creek’s Ben Norgrove struck 60 off 87 deliveries.
Had competition for the position from Inverleigh opener Will Collins in the same game with a 92-ball 57.
Tom Kearney
Jan Juc
Thrashed 20 boundaries in his 95-ball 97 stay against Queenscliff.
Lachlan Platt (keeper)
Inverleigh
A 48-ball 47 at first drop for the Kookaburras was crucial as they chased down 190 for victory against the reigning premiers.
Thomas Bakker
Queenscliff
Top scoring for the Coutas in a losing cause, Bakker hit 65 off 82 deliveries at number four.
Matthew Bode
Barwon Heads
Wobbling a bit at 6-97 chasing 141 for victory, Bode (46 not out) at number five combined with Darcy Hewitt (20 not out) to guide the Seagulls to victory over Anglesea.
Tallan Burns
Drysdale
The UK import compiled 50 not out at number four as the Hawks chased down 148 for victory against Barrabool, finding an ally with Hamish Eddy (51 not out) in a 90-run, unbeaten stand.
Took 1-28 with the ball.
Hamish Eddy
Drysdale
A strong all-round effort with 51 not out off 47 balls (six fours and a six) and 1-25 with the ball.
Matthew High
Barwon Heads
High was a big reason why Barwon Heads kept Anglesea to 9-140 off its 40 overs, producing
3-8 off 4.1 overs — singlehandedly turning the score from 4-101 to 7-109 as the Roos lost 4-12 overall.
Oscar Crocker
Jan Juc
Played his role in a 24-run win over Queenscliff at the Couta Bowl with 3-40, bowling opener Lachlan Stott second ball.
Blake Dobbin
Drysdale
Restricting Barrabool to 147 off one ball shy of 40 overs, the opener returned the terrific figures of 2-16 off seven overs.
David Sykes
Drysdale
In a similar vein to Dobbin, Sykes produced one of the most economical spells in A1 memory with 2-10 off eight overs.
A2
William Liddle
Surf Coast
The co-coach struck a 112-ball 106 not out at the top of the order against Winchelsea to post a strong 7-198 batting first.
Daniel Roddis
Ocean Grove
Struck 59 for Ocean Grove at the top of the order in a four-wicket win over St Leonards.
Singhara Kumara
Newcomb
Scoring 65 not out, the new recruit combined with Thisum Hapugodage (31 not out) to steer the Bulls from 2-37 to victory without further loss chasing 128 against Wallington.
Harrisyn Wingrave
Collendina
The youngster stood up with a 61-ball 55 as the Cobras chased down 136 after stumbling to 5-68.
Paul Hassan
St Leonards
A fine all-round effort in a losing cause against Ocean Grove, Hassan hit 42 not out off just 47 balls to help St Leonards post 8-168 off 40 overs then backed it up with 4-28 off eight overs.
Lachlan Campbell
Surf Coast
The St Leonards recruit took 5-45 for his new club as Surf Coast beat Winchelsea by 37 runs after scoring 25 at first drop.
Jacob Taylor (keeper)
Ocean Grove
An unbeaten 52 off 50 balls at number seven as the Grubbers chased down St Leonards’ 8-168.
Stan Grazotis
Collendina
Tidy figures of 3-15 off eight overs, including the potentially damaging Brenton Toole for 18, against Portarlington in a four-wicket win.
Randika Mudiyanselage
Newcomb
A strong all-round game for Newcomb, Mudiyanselage claimed 3-29 off seven overs before belting a rapid 27 off just 11 balls with three boundaries and two sixes.
Connor Weidemann
Ocean Grove
The Grubbers new recruit took 3-25 off eight overs as his side beat St Leonards by four wickets.
Jack Scanlon
Newcomb
The young seamer took 3-24 off 6.5 overs against Wallington including the big wicket of Henry McIntosh for nine.
ROUND 1
A1
Max Melzer
Barwon Heads
Chasing 109 for victory, Melzer got the Seagulls off to a strong start with 38 off 57 deliveries as they eventually beat Jan Juc by seven wickets.
Ben Harcombe
Anglesea
Only made 14 off 18 balls at the top of the order but took 4-34 to claim the final four wickets of Queenscliff’s innings to complete a solid all-round match. Faced stiff competition from the Coutas’ Lochie Philp (2-24 and 31 off 38 balls).
Luke Taylor
Anglesea
A 49-ball 47 at first drop, Taylor played an important role in a massive score of 8-247 against Queenscliff.
Sam Weight
Anglesea
Weight, returning to Ellimatta Reserve this summer, made a big statement with 98 off 70 balls with five boundaries and seven sixes.
Daniel Donaldson
Barwon Heads
The Seagulls skipper had a fine all-round game with the incredible figures of 2-9 off six overs then 23 not out as his side chased down Jan Juc’s 108 for victory.
James Jirik
Barrabool
Added a 31-ball 27 not out after Barrabool had stumbled to 5-98 batting first then claimed 2-26 off eight overs as Inverleigh was bowled out for 126.
Ty Norman (keeper)
Anglesea
Norman made 35 off 30 balls to help guide his team to a massive 8-247 against Queenscliff before collecting three catches and a stumping in a comprehensive victory.
Jacko Mallett
Barwon Heads
Slots down the list from his batting position of five, making 13 not out against Jan Juc, but took 4-24 off eight overs to steamroll the Sharks.
James Fisher
Barrabool
Returned the terrific figures of 3-14 off 7.4 overs as the Bulls won by four runs over Inverleigh.
Daniel Midolo
Inverleigh
A rapid 24 off 19 balls against Barrabool to give his side a chance after a tidy 2-23 off eight overs.
Daniel Maclean
Armstrong Creek
The Titans captain led from the front with 4-31 to help dismiss Drysdale for 163.
A2
Shaun Fankhauser
Ocean Grove
Fankhauser’s 70 against Winchelsea at the top of the order was critical to posting a competitive score of 6-176, combining with Fletcher Long (44) with a 109-run stand for the second wicket.
Henry McIntosh
Wallington
92 not out off just 89 rocks with 15 boundaries against Collendina in nine wicket win.
Lachlan Campbell
Surf Coast
Top scored for Surf Coast with 30 after taking 3-26 off eight overs during St Leonards’ innings of 139.
Shane Murdoch
Winchelsea
A pivotal 73 not out was the centrepiece of Winchelsea’s innings as they chased down Ocean Grove’s 6-176.
Jack Baldi
Portarlington
Back to the Port after a few summers at Kardinia Park, Baldi scored 59 not out for the Demons as they chased down Newcomb’s 8-172 with six wickets in hand.
Nick Hallam
St Leonards
Drops down from his number four position with St Leonards for the team of the week, making a crucial 47 as part of a 58-run stand with Brian White (25) after stumbling to 2-6, ensuring his side had something to bowl at.
Baiden Luppino (keeper)
Winchelsea
A steady 23 off 64 balls as the Blues reeled in Ocean Grove’s 6-176.
Bill Gravett
Wallington
Gravett’s 4-17 off eight overs played a huge role in restricting Collendina to 9-127 off its 40 overs, taking three wickets in the top seven.
Akashiv Singh
Surf Coast
In a losing cause Singh produced a fine all-round game with 2-11 off seven overs and his 28-ball 30 with three sixes gave his side a chance late in the match.
Shane Currie
Winchelsea
Playing in his first game with the Blues, Currie grabbed a tidy 3-22 off eight overs, helping keep Ocean Grove to 6-176 batting first, ripping the heart out of the Grubbers’ middle order.
Thomas Stewart
Portarlington
Produced the tight figures of 3-25 off eight overs as Newcomb was restricted to 8-172 batting first.
Took three wickets as the Bulls lost 6-34 at the end of their innings.
St Leonards win by barest margin
With a torn hamstring and a last-ball finish in dying light, there was plenty of drama in the final threes overs of the opening round A2 clash between St Leonards and Surf Coast.
Sixteen runs were needed by the Suns from the final Will Stovell over to reach 140 for victory at Len Trewin Reserve, before Akashiv Singh hit two, a boundary and a six in consecutive deliveries, leaving four runs required from two balls.
However, Stovell had Singh caught behind, forcing Harrison Ryan, who had come off the ground with a torn hamstring, to return to the crease.
He would score two runs off the final delivery as St Leonards got home by the barest of margins.
Watching from the boundary line was St Leonards coach Shane Cutajar, who returned to the club after a 20-year absence.
He told this masthead it was closer than it should have been, after the visitors had been reduced to 7-88 before 20 runs were clubbed from the 38th and 39th overs.
“We probably should have won by a lot more, they had a little bit of a rally in the last few overs,” Cutajar said.
“Got a bit too tight for our liking but we got the win.
“They just went berserk in the last 16 to 18 balls of the game.
“We were comfortably winning there with three overs to go, I wasn’t feeling too comfortable with one ball left.
“(Ryan) actually did his hamstring so he came back in at number eleven.
“Going through for a quick single batting with Lachie Campbell ... stretching to make his ground at the keeper’s end.
“Because the game was running a little bit behind schedule, it was getting dark, instead of just waiting to get a runner to get ready they retired him hurt.”
Earlier, St Leonards had been rolled for just 139 off 38 overs after teetering at 2-6 following the loss of Troy Griffin and Adrian Caudullo.
However, Brian White (25) and Nick Hallam (47) got the innings back on track with a 58-run stand for the third wicket.
“Two match-winning partnerships really, Brian and Nick and then Paul (Hassan) towards the end batted with great control and his 24 (off 30 balls) at the back-end of the innings was imperative,” he said.
Lachlan Campbell (3-26), Akashiv Singh (2-11 off seven overs) and Gurpreet Singh (2-30) were multiple wicket takers.
After being 0-24 in reply, Surf Coast’s innings fell apart, losing 7-64 before Akashiv (28 off 30 balls) and Gurpreet Singh (15 off 13) added 36 runs for the eighth wicket.
When Gurpreet was removed leg before by Hassan, there were still 16 runs to get.
“Oscar (1-10) and Troy Griffin (1-19) ... they bowled their 16 overs for a combined total of 29 runs, for us that was crucial, we were able to tie up the middle part of the game,” Cutajar said.
“They really put the brakes on and forced their hand a little bit at the end.”
James Fisher masterclass spoils Inverleigh’s party
A clutch James Fisher over has ensured Barrabool opened their A1 season with a four-run thriller over Inverleigh on Saturday.
Batting first, the Bulls put 6-130 on the scoreboard (James Jirik 27 not out, Shane Stevens 25, Luke Clift 21, Daniel Midolo 2-23, Locke Perrett 2-25) after 40 overs at Ceres Recreation Reserve.
In reply, the Kookaburras stumbled to 8-82, but late order runs from Austin Haygarth (29), Midolo (24) and Murphy Walker (14 not out) got their team within touching distance with plenty of overs up their sleeve.
However, James Fisher would trap Midolo leg before in the 33rd over, ending Inverleigh’s innings on 126.
Fisher would finish the day with the impressive figures of 3-14 off 7.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Anglesea started the A1 season under new management with a commanding victory over Queenscliff by 59 runs at Ellimatta Reserve.
Batting first, the returning Sam Weight smashed 98 off just 70 balls with five fours and seven sixes with support from Luke Taylor (47 off 49 balls) and Ty Norman (35 off 30 balls) to rack up 8-247 off its 40 overs.
In reply, Ben Harcombe (4-34) and Leon Jacobs (2-24) helped roll Queenscliff for 188 (Brendan Thom 37, Lochie Philp 31, Max Minney 23) with five overs to spare.
At Bob Pettit Reserve, Barwon Heads easily accounted for Jan Juc by seven wickets after dismissing the visitors for 108 (Tom Kearney 26, Jacko Mallett 4-24, Angus Mackie 2-23, Dan Donaldson 2-9 off six overs).
The Sharks would lose their last nine wickets for just 54 runs after reaching 0-38 earlier in their innings.
Max Melzer (38), Lewis Hyland (25) and Donaldson (23 not out) ensured an early finish with more than 15 overs to spare.
And Armstrong Creek began it title defence with a 40-run victory over Drysdale after posting 7-203 (Ben Robertson 55, Adam Trevean 30 not out, Nikhil Kapoor 26, Troy Bott 26, Blake Dobbin 2-41, Hayden Eddy 2-45).
Despite 57 from Ronnie Peillon and 25 from Eddy, the Hawks could only muster 163 as Daniel Maclean took 4-31 with support from Ryan Parkinson (2-36) and Trevean (2-34) at Armstrong Creek East Sports Precinct.
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Originally published as The BPCA’s teams of the week
