Leg-spinner snaffles five wickets, skippers score centuries

Caleb Candappa, Zac Grech, Sam Lalor, Xander Buxton and Cory Cater were among the stars of Round 3 of the Victorian Under 16 boys series.

Zac Grech after his sparkling century for Ringwood.

Two batsmen were added to the list of centurymakers but a leg-spinner did his bit for the bowling brigade in the Premier Cricket Under 16 boys series on Sunday.

Caleb Candappa, the captain of Prahran’s team, captured five wickets against Fitzroy-Doncaster at Toorak Park.

In a match reduced to 45 overs, Candappa bowled three spells and returned 5-35 off nine overs.

Half-centuries from Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Alex Turner led the young True Blues to 189, enough to hold out the Lions, who were 3-134 but bowled out for 182.

Candappa, a student at St Kevin’s College, also captained Inner South East in the VMCU Jim Beitzel Shield this season and has played Sub-District First XI cricket with Moorabbin.

Caleb Candappa bowling for Moorabbin.

Centuries from Ringwood captain Zac Grech and his Northcote counterpart Sam Lalor were the highlight of the match at Jubilee Park.

Grech, a right-hander opener who went away to Hamilton and Dunkeld for the Victorian Under 17 series in January, cracked 143 off 141 balls, with 13 boundaries.

His innings underpinned the Rams’ 7-257 off 44 overs.

Lalor hit 109 not out off 125 deliveries in the visitors’ reply of 6-174.

Ringwood coach Josh Hartill said Grech played an outstanding hand.

“From ball one he never looked like he was going to go out,’’ he said.

“He has all the shots and he played them from ball one. It was great to watch from the stands … couldn’t be any happier or more proud of how he went about his cricket.’’

Grech joined Ringwood this season and has scored runs consistently in the Fourth XI.

Hartill said left-hander Lalor played well too.

“I thought our bowlers bowled pretty well the whole day, and we couldn’t get him out. He made a well-deserved hundred. Luckily for us we had plenty of runs on the board.’’

Lalor, from Bacchus Marsh, is a bottom-age player and also the team wicketkeeper.

His brother Will is also playing in the series for Northcote, as is their cousin Archie, who is the youngest brother of senior Dragons Dan and Jack Lalor.

At Walter Galt Reserve, Kingston Hawthorn scrapped to 190 and put Melbourne under pressure when Cory Cater knocked over Jaxon Binns (3), Harry DeMattia (0) and Henry Pearson (3) to leave the Demons 3-23.

But Xander Buxton and Kobyn James rescued the visitors with a partnership of 96, and they went on to reach 5-191.

Buxton hit 76 off 83 balls, with 10 fours and 1 six, and James scored 44 off 50.

Chris Kellaway (26no) and Tom Reid (24no) took Melbourne over the line.

Right-arm paceman Cater was outstanding for the Hawks with 4-40 off 10 overs, and also contributed 28 in an even batting effort.

Out of the Kingston Hawthorn juniors, he played in the Third XI on Saturday and bowled well. Luke Hawkeswood top scored for the Hawks with 46.

At Central Reserve, Casey South Melbourne had its way with Richmond, dashing to 1-137 in reply to 136.

Round 2 centurymaker Atharv Deshpande crafted 71 not out and shared an opening stand of 102 with Luke Grady (44).

Thivi Salwathura clipped 55 off 60 balls from the opening slot to set up Frankston Peninsula’s 9-204 against Dandenong, which was all out for 137.

Salwathura and Jack Mannix (36) put on 93 for the first wicket. Mannix was man of the match for Ormond in its win in the Sub-District Under 15 John Craig Shield.

Greenvale Kangaroos (202) held out Carlton (198) by four runs.

The Blues dropped from 2-105 to 6-122, rallied through Wil Pinniger (25) and Tobie Travaglia (45), but lost their last four wickets for 10.

Charles Bolmat took 3-38 for the Kangas and Jack Atkinson 4-32 for Carlton.

Opener Campbell Snookes, with 75 not out, steered Geelong to 3-151 in reply to Melbourne Uni’s 149, and Footscray coasted to 2-155 and past Essendon’s 154.

Lucas McKinnon continued his outstanding form for the Dons with 68.

LEADING PERFORMERS

BATTING

Xander Buxton (Melbourne): 291 runs at 97

Atharv Deshpande (Casey South Melbourne): 255 runs at 255

Zac Grech (Ringwood): 226 runs at 226

Henry Melville (Geelong): 184 runs at 61.33

Lucas McKinnon (Essendon): 179 runs 59.67

Campbell Snookes (Geelong): 162 runs 81

Ali Khan (Melbourne University): 161 runs 80.50

Xavier Austin (Carlton): 153 runs at 51

Trae Love-Linay (Kingston Hawthorn): 149 runs at 49.67

Sam Lalor (Northcote): 147 runs at 147

BOWLING

Sam Gove (Frankston Peninsula): 8 wickets at 6.75

Harrison Sheahan (Melbourne University): 8 wickets 8.25

Liam Mason (Footscray): 6 wickets at 15.67

Josh Pace (Footscray): 6 wickets 16.83

Cory Cater (Kingston Hawthorn): 6 wickets at 19.50

Charles Bolmat (Greenvale Kangaroos): 6 wickets at 20