Victorian Premier Cricket Team of the Week: Tom Rogers, Campbell Kellaway in

Maiden century makers, rising stars and experienced heads feature in our Premier Cricket Team of the Week. See who made it.

A double header weekend of Victorian Premier Cricket allowed for some huge performances.

There were centuries galore with some of the leading run scorers left out of our Team of the Week.

The biggest performance belonged to Northcote’s Jonty Rushton who broke through for his first century.

Here’s Leader Local Cricket’s best XI from the weekend’s action.

TOM ROGERS (Ringwood)

The Rams’ opener starred in the Sunday victory against Melbourne University, returning to his lofty heights with a showing of 149 not-out off 158 deliveries, including 13 fours and four sixes. It’s his first big haul of the campaign, following a sizzling summer last season with 898 runs (most in the comp) at an average of 89.80 among four tons.

JONTY RUSHTON (Northcote)

It was a weekend to remember for the Dragons opener as he ran away to his first Premier century in devastating fashion with 155 runs from 132 runs against Kingston Hawthorn. Rushton finished with 16 boundaries and 8 sixes during the devastating knock which easily bettered his previous best of 77. Cricket being the funny game that it is, Rushton was dismissed for a duck just a day later against Footscray.

CAMPBELL KELLAWAY (Melbourne)

A brilliant unbeaten 133 not out innings saw Kellaway race away to his highest score in Premier Cricket, eclipsing his 130-run performance from last season against St Kilda. And the celebrations are only continuing after he was called into the Victorian one-day squad ahead of the clash with Queensland on Tuesday where he could make his debut. Also hit a half-century against Richmond on Sunday.

Northcote’s Joshua Sundberg. Picture: Andy Brownbill

JOSH SUNDBERG (Northcote)

After being run out for 26 against Kingston Hawthorn, Sundberg broke through for just the second century of his Premier career on Sunday against Footscray as he finished unbeaten on 100. The experienced middle order batter went out a run a ball and finished with 3 boundaries and 3 sixes in the innings.

HARRISH KANNAN (Casey South Melbourne)

The 18-year-old went so close to his maiden Premier century, making 98 off 152 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) to help set up the Swans’ win over Melbourne Uni. Kannan emerged as an exciting prospect last season when he scored three half-centuries and 540 runs. He looks set to continue his rise in 2022-23.

JACK PRESTWIDGE (Melbourne)

What a way to score your maiden century! The hard-hitting all-rounder blitzed 100 off 70 balls, with 6 fours and 4 sixes, for the Demons against Dandenong after going in at 4-124. Prestwidge shared a 190-run partnership with fellow century maker Campbell Kellaway to help power Melbourne to 5-315.

Noah Croes. Photo: Hamish Blair

NOAH CROES (Melbourne University)

The keeper-batter has collected stumpings and catches this season but it was his batting over the weekend that earned him a spot in the team of the week. He made 52 at the top of the list against Ringwood, sharing a 118-run opening stand with Blake Reed (59). Croes is known for his batting ability; he peeled off a century last season.

MATT FOTIA (Ringwood)

The returning Rams quick has enjoyed a strong start to the new season – and the weekend was no exception. Claimed 3-27 off 8.5 overs against St Kilda on Saturday – before a haul of 4-28 off 10 in the Sunday fixture with Melbourne University – following up nicely from his 3-36 bag in the season-opener against Footscray the previous week. Missed most of last season through injury but has had no worries in his return.

Richmond bowler Sam Mills. Picture: Valeriu Campan

SAM MILLS (Richmond)

Hauled in 5-40 off nine overs in the victory over Fitzroy Doncaster on Saturday – including claiming the scalp of electric Lions’ opener Jack Rudd for 22, before stopping No. 2 Nick Fletcher in his tracks at 63. No mean feat.

CHARLIE SIMONDSON (Fitzroy Doncaster)

The Lions’ spinner went to work on Frankston Peninsula’s middle and lower orders, helping his side to its first victory of the season on Sunday with 4-15 off 9.2 overs, including four maidens. Combined nicely with teammate Ikroop Dhanoa, who took in 4-21 off 10.

TYLER PEARSON (Kingston Hawthorn)

The 17-year-old captured 4-19 off 8.3 overs in only his second game to set up the Hawks’ win over Dandenong. His haul included the prized scalps of legendary Dandy openers Brett Forsyth and Tom Donnell. A St Bede’s boy, Pearson has played in the Hawks’ Dowling Shield program over the past two seasons.