Maiden centuries, five-wicket haul in the Premier Cricket Team of the Week
A pair of maiden Premier Cricket centuries and a five-wicket haul, our Team of the Week showcases some of the competition’s elite young talent.
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Maiden Premier Cricket centuries and five-fors highlight the Round 4 Team of the Week.
Noah Croes and Campbell Kellaway raised the bat after reaching triple figures for the first time while Matt Wilson raised the ball.
The weekend’s action showcased some of the elite young talent in Premier Cricket.
Only one Dog makes the team after a 10-wicket win but there’s two Saints and Panthers.
Check out our selected XI and 12th man below.
1. NOAH CROES (Melbourne University) (WK)
The Students faced a tough task at half-time of their clash against Greenvale Kangaroos, set a chase of 210 for victory. However, Croes made it look ridiculously easy. The wicketkeeper-opening bat scored his maiden Premier Cricket century and was eventually out for 107 from just 90 balls with 17 boundaries and a six to his name. A remarkable turnaround for the Victorian Under-19 representative after falling for a duck last week.
2. DYLAN BRASHER (Footscray)
Dogs coach Allan Wise said Brasher would have been disappointed to miss out on the Victoria Second XI match mid-week and he certainly took out his feelings on Casey-South Melbourne. The young gun finished unbeaten on 101, with 11 fours and a pair of sixes, from 106 balls to seal a 10-wicket win together with Dan Sartori (88 not out). Capable of making runs in a hurry, this was an innings that showed he’s capable of patience and class.
3. CAMPBELL KELLAWAY (Melbourne)
The left-hander is in Australia’s Under-19 World Cup squad and played for the Victoria Second XI last week. On Saturday he made a display of his talents with an innings of 130 against St Kilda’s all-star attack. His maiden century came off 152 balls and had the glitter of one six and 10 fours. But the Demons fell short in the run chase and Kellaway was inconsolable after the game, he was more interested in the win than in his personal milestone. “I’m sure we’re going to see a lot of him in the future. He looks like a good one,” St Kilda captain Adam Crosthwaite said.
4. MICHAEL DE IACOVO (St Kilda)
The burly right-hander started the season in the Saints’ Second XI. Last Tuesday he thrashed an unbeaten century in the Victorian Super Slam and came into the First XI against Melbourne on Saturday. Demons quickie Jackson Koop worked him over with some short stuff early in his innings but De Iacovo went on to score 91 before being run out in a mix-up with partner Ed Newman. He hit 12 fours in a 116-ball stay and on Sunday St Kilda captain Adam Crosthwaite declared that De Iacovo “could potentially play in the Big Bash”. “I think he’s similar to a (Brayden) Stepien. If given an opportunity at the next level he could hold his own,” he said. “I think he’s the most damaging hitter and aggressive batter that we have in the comp. We haven’t come up against anyone who hits the ball harder or further.”
5. NICK ROSS (Carlton)
Ross put the finishing touches on Carlton’s imposing 286 against Ringwood. Coming in at 3-145, the Blues skipper had plenty of licence and took full advantage, smashing 14 boundaries in a quickfire 54-ball 88. Also ran out Joseph Loorham to showcase his quality in the field. A true middle order batsman, Ross earns his spot over openers Ryan Hammel and Dan Sartori.
6. MARK PHELAN (Northcote)
A rock at the top of the Dragons’ batting line-up, Phelan anchored a successful chase on Saturday, finishing 86 not out from 127 balls. He earns his spot thanks to his match-winning contribution in the win over Fitzroy Doncaster. While wickets fell around him, the opening batsman was there at the end as the winning runs were hit with seven balls remaining. Not surprisingly, Phelan has scored two half centuries this season and Northcote has won in both games.
7. JOSH LARKIN (Geelong)
The only man to make 25 or more runs and take two or more wickets in the First XI this weekend and so earns the allrounder spot in our Team of the Week. Larkin scored an unbeaten 46 as Geelong, bizarrely hitting one six but no fours. He backed up his efforts with the bat by claiming 2-18 from five overs, dismissing Richmond skipper Dom Matarazzo and Zac Sleeman in quick succession, but was powerless to stop Richmond’s march to victory.
8. TODD MURPHY (St Kilda)
A second Team of the Week gong this season for the young offie. His 3-40 off 10 overs against Melbourne at the Albert Ground included the prize wicket of Demons skipper Blake Thomson for 12. Murphy was coming off spinning duties for the Victorian Second XI against ACT/NSW Country at the MCG, where he collected 4-38 off 13 overs in the second innings.
9. MATT WILSON (Dandenong)
The right-armer picked a good time to take his first five-wicket haul in Premier Cricket. Dandenong went into the match against Frankston-Peninsula without any points and eager to do well in captain Brett Forsyth’s 250th match. The Carlton signing picked up 5-34 off 9.1 overs, including wickets with successive balls to remove Heat top-order pair Akshay Kodoth and Brody Symons. Wilson also bats well and will be an important figure at Shepley Oval as the First XI takes on a new shape and look.
10. SASHIN GARBER (Prahran)
Hardly bowled in the opening two rounds but found a spark in the Super Slam last week, taking 3-12 against Camberwell before returning to haunt the Magpies again with 4-30 from 10 overs on Saturday. The True Blues quick came on second change and promptly ripped through the visitors line-up. Garber nicked off Magpies skipper Ben Rowles and ran out Hamish Burrill shortly after in his first spell before picking up the wickets of William Townsend and Ben Shields in his second as Prahran eased to a six-wicket win.
11. SAM WETERING (Dandenong)
If you had suggested to Wetering, 18, before the start of the season that he would be picked in a Premier Cricket Team of the Week, he would have chuckled his chops off. He didn’t even imagine he would be playing in the First XI. But the Springvale South product got a debut last week (he was called up from the Thirds) and on Saturday he captured 4-41 off 10 overs to help Dandy hold out Frankston Peninsula. He’s got a lot to do but the slightly-built medium pacer can swing the ball and comes through a little quicker than he appears. He’s made an encouraging start with the Panthers.
12th MAN: RYAN HAMMEL (Frankston-Peninsula)
Frankston-Peninsula has an emerging player in right-hand opener Hammel. He led the Heat’s run chase against Dandenong on Saturday with an innings of 90 off 125 balls and was disappointed he couldn’t see it through. He’s an organised, technically-pleasing player who, like a few other top-order batsmen in the competition, is dreaming of the day when he gets to face a red ball.
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