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A stacked line-up in the Round 12 Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Premier Cricket returned to two-day cricket with a bang on the weekend with some monster performances. We’ve picked the best in our Team of the Week.

Smith flying to India late in order to play in BBL Final

Harder to pick than a broken nose.

Victorian Premier Cricket returned to two-day cricket with a bang over the weekend with some monster performances.

This week’s XI is so stacked we couldn’t even find room for centurions Chris Lill (Melbourne, 104), Fergus McKenna (Melb Uni, 102no), Jackson Freeman (Ringwood, 111no) and Marcus Harris (St Kilda, 109).

The top six all reached triple figures, while there were hauls of eight, six, six and five wickets for the bowlers and a hat-trick to boot.

Dylan Brasher in action for Footscray. Picture: Hamish Blair
Dylan Brasher in action for Footscray. Picture: Hamish Blair
Jack Rudd in action for Fitzroy Doncaster. Picture: George Sal
Jack Rudd in action for Fitzroy Doncaster. Picture: George Sal

1. DYLAN BRASHER (Footscray)

Continued his incredible run of form with a brilliant 148 not out to chase down ladder-leader Carlton. Brasher was in the middle for 238 balls and 303 minutes, hitting 16 boundaries, as he brought up his first ton of the campaign. Now has 502 runs at an average of 71.71.

2. JACK RUDD (Fitzroy Doncaster)

The Lions’ opener blasted 124 runs off 133 deliveries in his side’s big win over Camberwell Magpies, driving 17 fours and four sixes. Partnered nicely with No. 4 batsman Liam Smith (70 off 69), as the pair put on 133.

3. TOM SMYTH (Carlton)

The Blues opener knocked up his ninth – and first since 2020 – Premier Cricket century against Footscray, scoring 115 from 210 balls. Smyth’s innings included 16 boundaries and a six to help his team post 9-310 but it sadly would prove in vein as Footscray chased it down.

Carlton batter Tom Smyth. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Carlton batter Tom Smyth. Picture: Valeriu Campan

4. TRAVIS DEAN (Footscray)

The 30-year-old showed his class and experience against reigning premiers Carlton in notching his first century of the season. Dean scored 116 off 128 deliveries in his side’s big run chase of Carlton’s 310, coming in at number three. He put the pressure on Carlton, almost scoring at a run-a-ball in the first two-day game in a long time.

5. MICHAEL WALLACE (Casey-South Melbourne)

It was a drought-breaking weekend for the Swans captain who blasted 140 runs in his side’s massive win over Melbourne. Wallace scored his first century in five seasons.

6. JACK TIMBY (Greenvale Kangaroos)

The former Swan Hill gun broke through for his first century in Premier Cricket with 115 runs from 166 balls in his side’s loss to Dandenong. His innings included 11 fours and two sixes.

7. LIAM BLACKFORD (Geelong)

The Cats keeper gets the nod behind the stumps, pipping Casey’s Devin Pollock. Blackford ensured Geelong would not suffer an outright loss against Essendon with a resolute 49 not out in the second innings against a rampant Bombers attack.

8. JAMES NANOPOULOS (Frankston Peninsula)

A week after taking his 400th wicket, “Nano” turned in a man-of-the-match performance as the Heat upset Ringwood to keep its finals hopes alive. The Frankston skipper took 5-39 off 19.1 overs – surprisingly, his first five-for for the Heat – and then hit 67 off 106 balls, playing an array of “first-class shots”, according to Heat coach Paul Boraston.

9. TOM O’DONNELL (Essendon)

The Essendon spearhead charges to the top of the Premier Cricket wicket-taking charts with an incredible eight-wicket performance against Geelong. O’Donnell took 7-57 in the first innings, including the final two wickets in consecutive balls, and snared a hat-trick with the first ball of the Cats’ second dig when he trapped Hayden Butterworth lbw.

Northcote’s Joe Medew-Ewen saved his team with the bat. Picture: Andy Brownbill
Northcote’s Joe Medew-Ewen saved his team with the bat. Picture: Andy Brownbill

10. JOE MEDEW-EWEN (Northcote)

The former South Australian Shield tweaker spun up a storm against St Kilda, taking 6-97 off 24 overs. He then followed up with a fighting 33 not out off 114 balls with the bat to help the finals-bound Dragons hold on for a gripping draw.

11. LIAM MYOTT (Fitzroy Doncaster)

Hauled in a total of 6-42 across the two days off 16.5 overs, including a season-best of 4-24 on Sunday as the Lions downed the Magpies. Made his way into the First XI in Round 9 just ahead of the Christmas break, where he has since claimed 10 wickets across the four appearances.

12. HARRISH KANNAN (Casey-South Melbourne)

The youngster scored his maiden Premier Cricket century to steer his side to a brilliant victory over Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday. Chasing 335, Kannan notched 103 from 213 deliveries which contributed to a match-winning 249 run partnership with Michael Wallace.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/sport/a-stacked-lineup-in-the-round-12-premier-cricket-team-of-the-week/news-story/1c14daf8558eba86c6c75bcc58dad1d9