Leader Local Cricket names a Team of the Year for every MPCA division
It’s finals time in the MPCA but first we must recognise the season’s top performers. Local Cricket’s scribes have named their Team of the Year in every division.
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It’s finals time in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association but first we must recognise the season’s top performers.
Local Cricket’s scribes have named their Team of the Year in in every division.
PROVINCIAL
1. DYLAN O’MALLEY (Old Peninsula)
Like a bottle of fine wine, the big opener gets better with age. Statistically, this has been his best season for the Pirates, with 579 runs, at 48.2. Smacked 122 against Baden Powell in December, to go with four half centuries. Also captured 10 wickets with his tweakers.
2. MATT PROSSER (Langwarrin)
The reigning dual Wedgwood medalist has had a solid rather than spectacular season, with 321 runs and 29 wickets. Always impacts matches.
3. CRAIG ENTWISTLE (Baden Powell)
The former Premier Cricket gun accumulated 584 runs, at 54.2, to lead the Provincial division run list. Scored back-to-back centuries and three half-tons - and plundered a competition-high 75 boundaries.
4. CHRIS BRITTAIN (Langwarrin)
The Langy captain has led from the front with 479 runs, at 47.9, including successive knocks of 83no, 68 and 74 late in the season. Also chipped in with 10 wickets.
5. HARLEY PEACE-STIRLING (Pines)
The man they call “Sauce” has been Mr Consistent this season, reaching double figures in every trip to the crease and piling up 566 runs, at 56.6. A brilliant undefeated 108 against Baxter in Round 12 was pivotal as the Piners surged up the ladder to snatch a finals berth.
6. RHYS ELMI (Baden Powell)
Got a lot of starts with the bat early in the season but towards the end of the season began churning out big scores, including 108 and 93, to finish the home and away season with 493 runs, at 41. Was also a consistent wicket taker, with 21, at 19.
7. TAYLOR SMITH (Langwarrin, wk)
With 26 dismissals (19 catches and 7 stumpings), he’s had a terrific season behind the stumps. He’s also averaged 28 with the bat in the middle order.
8. BILLY HUMPHREY (Pines)
Often opened both the batting and bowling for the Piners, with good success. Totalled 208 runs with the bat and grabbed 23 wickets.
9. PATRICK JACKSON (Pines)
The opening bowler was pivotal in Pines’ post-Christmas charge to the finals, taking 25 wickets, at 19. Also made vital runs in the middle order, tallying 211, at 21.
10. JOHN FORREST (Old Peninsula)
Another excellent season by the left-arm tweaker, claiming 22 wickets, at 14. Showed he’s the marathon man of Provincial by sending down 30.5 overs (3-33) and then 40 overs (3-45) in successive matches in February.
11. JAKE WOOD (Sorrento)
The big quickie took 33 wickets, at 12.6, to lead the Provincial division list. Captured a career-best 8-16 against Baxter in Round 8 and in the same match also took 5-59.
PENINSULA
1. RASHMIKA OPATHA (Mt Eliza)
The classy opener piled up 632 runs, at 45, to lead the Peninsula division run list. Posted five scores above fifty, including a top-drawer 108 against Dromana.
2. RAVINDU KODITHUWAKKU (Mt Eliza)
The Carlisle Park Vikings recruit had an outstanding season at the Mounties, making 406 runs at the top of the order and taking 25 wickets.
3. SAM GOVE (Flinders)
The 16-year-old began the season with 105no, added another ton (108) in Round 6 and almost got another one when he made 93 in Round 11. Finished with 441 runs. And played Country Week.
4. BLAKE HOGAN-KEOGH (Flinders)
The Sharks skipper blazed two superb unbeaten centuries, 110no and 127no, on his way to 449 runs, at 44. Also nabbed nine wickets.
5. MACKENZIE GARDNER (Seaford Tigers, captain, wk)
The former Heat gloveman took on the Tigers captaincy and has excelled, leading from the front with 507 runs, at 56, including 112 and 103 in successive matches. Also scored a 92. And snared 19 catches and six stumpings.
6. KRISTIAN MILLER (Heatherhill)
The Hills skipper played some big innings, including 102no and 90, and had an impact behind the stumps with 16 catches, three stumpings and six run outs.
7. LUKE KRANZBUHLER (Seaford Tigers)
The genuine all-rounder was always in the action, making 236 runs, at 21, in the Tigers top order and taking 21 wickets, at 17.
8. ADEEL HUSSAIN (Heatherhill)
The fiery quick was at his hostile best as he took 35 wickets in the home and away season, including 7-44 against Flinders. He also played some vital innings, including an unbeaten 81.
9. TOM BARON (Mt Eliza)
Captured 6-81 against the minor premiers Seaford Tigers and finished the season with 26 wickets. Was always good for some runs late in the innings, too.
10. MARK CARROLL (Seaford Tigers)
The spinner was in the wickets in every game, taking 33 scalps, at 11.1, with a superb economy rate of 2.4.
11. CAMERON MOON (Mornington)
The impressive young paceman led the Bulldogs attack manfully, nabbing 35 wickets, at 15.3, including three five-fors. Took at least one wicket in every match.
DISTRICT
1. BEN WALKER (Delacombe Park)
The Delacombe Park opening bat finished at the top of the home and away run scorers list with 411, passing 50 on three occasions. Walker’s consistent summer is shown through his scarce number of single-figure scores.
2. AARON BARDWELL (Seaford)
Bardwell took little time to adjust to District, recording an unbeaten century in the opening round. He recorded a further three scores over 50 to gross 410 runs at an average above 30.
3. BRAD LOCKHART (Carrum Downs, captain)
The Cougars bat has moved up and down the order all year but has made runs whenever his side has required them. Finished the home and away season with 376 runs at a sterling average of 53.72.
4. LIAM COLLETT (Rosebud)
Collett had a unique summer for the Sharks, recording five fifties without going on to post a score above 58. Proved handy with the ball at times too, claiming multiple wickets against cellar-dwellers Crib Point and Hastings.
5. JONATHON GUTHRIE (Delacombe Park, wk)
Guthrie leads the competition for dismissals with 25 and has had a steady summer with the bat. He made three fifties as well as a number of starts, accumulating 371 runs at 33.73.
6. LIAM HULETT (Carrum)
He hasn’t set the world on fire with the bat at the top for the Lions’ but has delivered with the ball, hence his position in this line-up. Hulett’s 243 runs complemented his 27 wickets at 19.41.
7. MATT BLAKE (Crib Point)
Blake has had a strong summer with both bat and ball for the Magpies. Despite making a duck on the weekend, he has contributed 342 runs at an average of 34 and has claimed 21 scalps at 17 with his leggies.
8. JORDAN WATTERS (Carrum Downs)
Watters has relished in the opportunity to bowl long stints this summer and it has had its rewards. He finished second in the competition for wickets with 29 at 12.97. Remarkably, he is going at less than three runs an over.
9. FLYNN WALKER (Delacombe Park)
Walker has had a superb summer with 29 wickets at 14, but it has been his late-season surge that catches the eye. He’s captured a wicket in each of his last six innings with the ball.
10. DANIEL STREKER (Delacombe Park)
Despite playing just 11 matches this summer, Streker has been one of the best performing bowlers of the District season. He snared 27 wickets with an astonishing average of just 8.74. Additionally, he is going at less than two runs per over and is sending a batter packing every 30 balls.
11. ANDREW SMITH (Seaford)
Smith’s 2022-23 has been exceptional. He tops the competition for wickets with 30 and has taken multiple scalps in eight of his nine matches since December. He jagged 7-44 against Main Ridge in the penultimate round of the season, which could ultimately shake up the league medal race.
SUB-DISTRICT
1. LUKE HEWITT (Balnarring, captain)
Balnarring’s boom recruit has performed as expected this summer, steering the Saints to an imperious minor premiership. With 528 runs at 44 and 30 wickets at 9.93, he will likely salute a fourth successive league medal.
2. JARROD WHITE (Tyabb)
A shining light for Tyabb in an otherwise disappointing year. White amassed 437 runs at 36.42 and passed 50 on four occasions, two of which were against eventual top-two sides Balnarring and Tootgarook. He rarely failed, falling for single figures just once this summer.
3. MATT WHELAN (Tootgarook)
A steady summer saw the Tootgarook stalwart accrue 440 runs at 44. He made one century and one half-century but accumulated such a big run tally as a result of regular starts. It could’ve been a monstrous summer for Whelan, as he found himself walking back to the sheds on five occasions with a score between 30 and 50.
4. JACK GREENWOOD (Frankston YCW)
If there is going to be a player to challenge Hewitt for the league medal, it’s Greenwood. He compiled 538 runs and 26 wickets. He made four fifties and two centuries. Those two hundred’s came in the space of 24 hours when the MPCA top grades played both Saturday and Sunday. In the rare game that Greenwood failed with the bat, he took 7-52.
5. JOSHUA SWAINSTON (Pearcedale)
Pearcedale’s captain led the competition for runs with 593 at 37.06. He passed 50 on five occasions for two centuries and a score of 95. Swainston also added an extra element to his season with 19 wickets at 21.84.
6. BEN STALLWORTHY (Mt Martha)
When he wasn’t contributing with the bat, he was contributing with the ball. Stallworthy finished with 309 runs at 23.77 and 28 wickets at 10.21.
7. JACKSON HANNAH (Balnarring, wk)
Hannah carved away 363 runs at over 30 with the bat and led the competitions for dismissals. His fast hands resulted in 28 dismissals, 11 of which were stumpings.
8. WALIGAMA PALLEGURUGE (Rye)
Rye’s off-spinning all-rounder had an enormous season with both bat and ball, notching 408 runs and capturing 35 wickets. He took five-wicket hauls on three occasions and took four scalps in two different outings.
9. THOMAS WALKER (Mt Martha)
Walker took a whopping 36 wickets at 11.83 in 2022-23 and accompanied that tally with 269 runs at 20 with the bat. He will play a crucial role in the Reds’ finals hopes.
10. PATRICK NICKEAS (Balnarring)
Nickeas proved it doesn’t take an eight or nine-wicket haul to collect 30 wickets. He jagged four wickets in three matches this summer and took multiple scalps in all but five outings. Nickeas’ season was highlighted by 4-2 against Tyabb in round 10.
11. SEAN SPENCER (Boneo)
The Boneo spearhead led the MPCA for wickets with a whopping 37. He took multiple wickets in all but one of his 13 matches this season with a best bowling of 5-30.
MPCA WOMEN’S
KYLIE WALTERS (Langwarrin, captain)
The champion peeled off two undefeated centuries in January and finished the season with 669 runs, at an eye-popping average of 334. Also captured 25 wickets, with a best of 7-6. And captained Langwarrin to back-to-back premierships.
DIANE KING (Balnarring)
King led her Saints to a grand final date with Langwarrin off the back of 406 runs at an incredible average of 40.60. She made two fifties - scores of 88 and 95 not out - but passed 20 on eight occasions throughout the season.
KIAH LAUGHLIN-GLEN (Langwarrin)
The star all-rounder capped a splendid season with an undefeated 48 and 2-9 in Langy’s grand final victory. In all, she made 487 runs, at 81, and took 18 wickets, at 5.
STEPHANIE WHITE (Langwarrin)
Another key member of Langwarrin’s strong side, taking 15 wickets (ranked third in the comp).
MARLEE BLACK (Somerville)
What a fantastic season by the teenager, cracking 366 runs, at 40, including a knock of 81. She also hit 49 boundaries (third in the comp).
KYLIE URE (Carrum Downs)
So consistent, she piled up 281 runs, at 56, as well as taking 12 wickets.
STELLA APPLEFORD (Rye)
Made contributions consistently with both bat and ball throughout the summer. She finished with an average of 22 in both after making 220 runs and taking 13 wickets.
JULIE FEARNS (Somerville)
The Dandenong Premier Cricket premiership player played just three matches for the Eagles this summer but demonstrated she was a serious class above. Fearns cruised beyond 50 in two of her three hits - both unbeaten - and took six wickets. She finished her summer with an average of 146 with the bat and just 7.67 with the ball. The Eagles will want her in their line-up for every game in 2023-24.
JESS CARON (Balnarring)
The Tyabb junior that is currently playing at Dandenong played always found a way to impact in her three matches for Balnarring this year. In the only match she didn’t reach 50 or more, she took a wicket.
CATE FILLIPONE (Balnarring)
Fillipone was a steady provider with both bat and ball, adding 271 runs at an average of 34 and captured 12 wickets at an average of 16.83.
LAUREN CAMPBELL (Langwarrin, wk)
Two seasons, two premierships — both times as wicketkeeper. Handy with the bat, too. And knows how to celebrate.
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