Captain Matthew Brown hits career-best 157 not out in hefty Melbourne total

Melbourne captain Matthew Brown hit his first century since the 2016-17 grand final and his highest in Premier Cricket as the Demons stacked up 7-326 against Dandenong.

Matthew Brown has known some frustration since his masterly innings in the Premier Cricket grand final of 2016-17.

The Melbourne skipper was held up as a state prospect after that hand against Fitzroy-Doncaster, Lions skipper Peter Dickson leading the hymn of praise.

But his 2017-18 was a disappointment, too many starts squandered, and this season he’s been more contributing than dominating.

The Demons needed runs from Brown on Saturday. And he made them. In fact, he made his highest score in Premier Cricket, 157 not out, to lift Melbourne to 7-326 on day one of the match against Dandenong at the Albert Ground.

Matthew Brown defends with the straightest of bats.

The right-hander faced 267 deliveries and put away 16 fours and 3 sixes.

It was his sixth century in the First XI.

Brown walked out with Melbourne 2-38 after it had been sent in, debutant Charles Lill (19) and Meyrick Buchanan (0) the batsmen dismissed.

Blake Thomson and Brown stabilised the innings but Thomson (38) and Andrew de Lange (1) departed before lunch, the home team going in at 4-84.

At that point Dandenong could be content with its decision to bowl.

But Brown and Melbourne had much the better of the second and third sessions.

Jack Harper (49) and Brad Melville (21) kept Brown steady company, and Sean Sturrock (21) and Jackson Coleman (13no) supported him in the last hour as he set about turning his century into 150.

By stumps the Demons had a formidable total and Brown had his highest score, bettering his 148 not out against Greenvale Kangaroos in 2014-15.

“A bit too long between big hundreds for me, but nice yesterday to get the ball rolling, for sure,’’ Brown said this morning.

“At 2-40 the game was probably finely balanced and (James) Nanopoulos was bowling well on a wicket that was seaming around.

“I guess to put my head down and face the number of balls I did was pleasing.

“Red-ball batting is all about batting time. Yesterday I was able to do that and capitalise after tea, which is always the way to go at the Albert.’’

Dandenong’s James Nanopoulos. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman

Lill is a former Essendon VFL player and has played all four grades for the Demons.

He was promoted after making 103 not out in the Second XI.

At Princes Park, St Kilda’s lower-order dragged it to 218 after Carlton’s pace bowlers reduced it to 6-105.

All-rounder Josh Bartlett hit 22 and then wicketkeeper Jay Munday (40) and skipper Michael Beer (48) added 65 for the eighth wicket.

Munday fought for 145 balls, hitting 4 fours and 1 six, and Beer faced 83 balls and clipped 4 fours.

Carlton’s attack is so strong that Cameron Stevenson, a first-class player for Tasmania, bowled second change, coming in behind Xavier Crone and Aaron Smillie and captain Ev Gulbis.

Of the Saints’ batting specialists, the neat, organised Lachie Holmes (45 off 90 balls, with seven boundaries) did best as the ball darted around on a well-grassed wicket.

He was out trying to take on a short delivery from the pacy Crone, who earlier had a gift when Damon Egan (13) left a ball and had his stumps rattled.

Egan had looked in good touch, twice hitting boundaries down the ground with immaculate timing.

Stevenson scalped rising pair Ben Davies (12) and Jon Merlo (1) with edges behind to build on the earlier strikes of Gulbis — who trapped Josh Manning (6) LBW and — and Crone, who had Dan Meddings (17) snicking to wicketkeeper Brayden Stepien.

Crone, probably Victoria’s next-in-line fast bowler, was a fine sight as he ran in with rhythm and generated impressive pace.

He finished with 5-49 off 21 overs but the number of plays-and-misses from his bowling went unrecorded. It probably hit double figures.

But from looking unlikely to get more than 140 the Saints scrapped it out for 94 overs to go past 200.

“The aim was to bat the day,’’ Beer said. “If we could get a partnership going, whether it was high in the order or low in the order, we’d be happy, and we achieved that.

“There was a fair bit in the wicket. For about 10 overs the ball got pretty soft and it stopped nipping around but then they took the new ball and it started all over again.’’

Beer said Holmes “batted very, very well’’ and said Munday showed a lot of fight.