Premier Cricket finals: Daniel Sartori hits classy century for Monash Tigers against St Kilda

A superb century from captain Daniel Sartori put Monash Tigers in a strong position on day one of the Premier Cricket elimination final against St Kilda at Casey Fields.

“How good is this wicket?’’ Monash Tigers captain Daniel Sartori asked a teammate as he walked off the ground for the tea break at Casey Fields on Saturday.

It was compliment for the pitch rather than a question.

He knew how good it was. He’d made a century on it on day one of the elimination final against St Kilda.

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Sartori’s superb 124 led his team to a respectable 275 and the Tigers strengthened their position before stumps when Marcus Berryman removed Saints opener Josh Manning for 12 and Lachie Holmes for a first-baller to leave St Kilda 2-17 going into today’s play.

Berryman had earlier hit 47, drilling a few drives through cover.

He had an excellent day, as did young St Kilda offie Todd Murphy, who claimed 6-50 off 25.5 overs.

Sartori had a great day, cracking his fifth century and his highest score in Premier Cricket.

On a wicket of true bounce and with enough grass to stoke the hopes of the bowlers, Sartori got his innings going by arrowing three drives to the boundary in one over off St Kilda swing man Henry Hall.

They were so well timed they were hitting the fence when the fielders were three or four paces into their chase.

Monash Tigers opener Daniel Sartori loads up on another cover drive. Picture: Valeriu Campan

When Shea Gribbin relieved Hall, Sartori cut him through point for four, and soon after he nailed left-armer Josh Bartlett down the ground for another boundary.

At the other end his young partner Campbell Vadlja was less expansive though comfortable enough.

The left-hander splashed out with three boundaries off one Jon Merlo over, including a punch off the back foot that bore a stamp of class.

But medium pacer Merlo broke through for the Saints when he won an LBW shout against Vadlja (22), ending a 71-run partnership to start the Monash innings.

Murphy took over from Gribben and pulled out two wickets before lunch to keep the Saints in it, Tom O’Connell (11) edging to slip and young Jake Fraser-McGurk (2) caught at mid-on after trying to hit the ball out of Cranbourne east and somewhere towards Tooradin.

The Saints celebrate the wicket of Campbell Vadlja.

The Tigers were 3-105 off 31 overs at the first break, with Sartori on 60.

Defending securely and attacking stylishly, he reached his century in the second session with a four off St Kilda captain Michael Beer, hearty applause accompanying the raising of his bat. He is a good player.

As he continued on, the Tigers were disappointed to lose Sam Taylor for 27, LBW to Murphy as he shaped to hit through the leg-side, and Scott Edwards for two, hitting a full-bunger to Beer at mid-off.

Taylor had played some rousing strokes through cover and Berryman did the same when he came out.

St Kilda paceman Shea Gribben. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He took Monash past 200 with four consecutive fours off Gribbin, two with handsome drives, two with nicks through slips.

Sartori’s fine hand ended when he was caught by Dan Meddings off Merlo, his 124 coming off 208 deliveries and including 15 fours and 2 sixes.

At one stage Murphy had 4-44 off 23 consecutive maidens. He added Berryman and Blade Baxter to his collection as he finished with his best figures in Premier Cricket. By every measure he was by some distance St Kilda’s best bowler.