Victorian Premier Cricket: Round 1 Team of the Week

Young guns starred and big names delivered on the opening weekend of the Victorian Premier Cricket season. See who made our Team of the Week.

Victorian Premier Cricket made a triumphant return at the weekend, although the opening round was impacted by rain.

Two games were called off but those who were able to take to the field put on a sensational display.

Here’s our Team of the Week from the opening round.

Ruwantha Kellapotha (Casey South Melbourne)

A brilliant start to the season with 109 runs from 125 balls in an innings that included seven boundaries and one 6. Kellapotha shared a 83-run opening stand with Ashley Chandrasinghe. He then snared 1-58 from his 10 overs.

Brett Forsyth (Dandenong)

The Dandenong skipper was at his brilliant best with an unbeaten 135 runs from 147 balls but unfortunately it wasn’t enough as his side went down to Casey South Melbourne. His innings included 12 boundaries and two 6s. Also took the catch to remove Kellapotha.

Dandenong star Brett Forsyth. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Zane Keighran (Melbourne)

The Melbourne opener’s run-a-ball 90 wasn’t enough to help his side get across the line against Geelong. His innings included 12 boundaries and a six.

Oliver Peake (Geelong)

Peake’s development is going to be a pleasure to watch this season. Coming in at 2-38, he produced a patient 69 runs from 100 deliveries including a 106-run partnership with skipper Josh Larkin to put his side in a strong position. Also had a run out.

Liam Fitzpatrick (Camberwell Magpies)

The Magpies’ young gun picked up from where he left off, driving 74 runs off 102 balls in his side’s bout with Ringwood – after enjoying a breakout campaign last season with a career-best 707 runs. Could he be set for another mammoth season?

Max Delaney (Prahran)

The exciting youngster, who made his First XI last campaign, made an impressive start to his season with 75 runs off 91 deliveries in a big win over Greenvale. He arrived at the crease with Prahran in a spot of both but Delaney’s ability to knock the ball around was on full display. Shared an impressive partnership with debutant Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan.

Ben Gibson (Ringwood)

The Rams’ keeper picks up the gloves after two crucial catches including the scalp of key Camberwell Magpies recruit and former WA Premier cricketer Coby Edmondstone who looked set for a half century, before finishing off Griffin McComb for a golden duck. Also contributed 27 from 48 balls with the bat, on a day where each run proved vital in his side’s narrow win.

Hayden Butterworth did damage with the ball.

Hayden Butterworth (Geelong)

While the opener might not have had the impact he would have liked with the bat, Butterworth proved to be the difference with the ball finishing with 5-17 from his five overs. His scalps included the key wicket of Zane Keighran who looked on track for a century.

Brendan Rose (Richmond)

What more can be said for a haul of 7-22 off 10 in his side’s mauling of Footscray, all out for 105 by the 36th over? The paceman looked ‘on’ from early in the piece, claiming opening pair Nathan Caulfield (1) and Footscray captain Dylan Brasher (2), before soon consigning Arjun Nair to a duck, plunging the hosts to 3-9. Rose didn’t relent from there.

Jackson Freeman (Ringwood)

Rescued the Rams from the jaws of defeat with 4-56 off 10 – including a hat-trick – to right the ship after his side was knocked over for 213 at the hands of the Camberwell Magpies. The Maggies looked to be cruising at 3-144 in the 36th over before ‘Jacko’ halted Liam Fitzpatrick’s 74-run stand, with the scalps of Griffin McComb and Hamish Burrill – both golden ducks – completing the hat-trick. But the Ringwood stalwart wasn’t done yet – taking out prized Magpies’ recruit Shorye Chopra on 61 with the third-last ball to seal the seven-run victory. Freeman also put away 34 with the bat off 40 balls.

Nicholas McGuane (Essendon)

Helped his side’s season off to a flyer with a 4-19 effort off nine overs – consistently bobbing up with wickets through Northcote’s run-chase, from top to lower order. The hosts fell 46 runs short of Essendon’s 8-188 total.