MPCA 2020-21: Provincial premiership contenders prepare for finals

Here’s a look at how every Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial club is tracking, and a spotlight on the star performers this season.

Sorrento batsman Corey Harris hits out against Old Peninsula. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With two rounds left, there is plenty to play for in MPCA Provincial.

Old Peninsula holds a commanding lead on top of the ladder, but Langwarrin, Baden Powell and Sorrento are all serious flag hopes in this season of one-day games.

We analysed all eight clubs, as well as the standout performers so far this summer with bat and ball.

BADEN POWELL

Ladder: Third (six wins, two draws, four losses) on 84 points

To come: Mt Eliza (home), Baxter (away)

State of play: A stretch of hot form since Christmas has Baden Powell headed for its first Provincial finals campaign in 23 years (since 1997-98, when they won the flag)

Season best: Opening bowler Zacc Klan, who has taken 22 wickets (at 14.09) this season since crossing from Dromana, has been a key figure in the Braves’ emergence as a title contender. Reigning Wedgwood medallist Rhys Elmi is again enjoying a fine season, with 270 runs and 14 wickets. Dashing left-handed opener Beau Anthony has crunched 307 runs (with 40 boundaries and 7 sixes, at 34.11), including a brilliant 126 against Mornington, and skipper Travis Kellerman has been consistent with 217 runs at 24.

Rhys Elmi is having another fine season for Baden Powell. Picture: Valeriu Campan

BAXTER

Ladder: Fifth (four wins, two draws, six losses) on 60 points

To come: Old Peninsula (away), Baden Powell (home)

State of play: Four successive losses looks to have ruined Baxter’s finals hopes — they haven’t won a game since star bat Daniel Warwick ruptured his Achilles on January 9. Still, with games against Old Peninsula and Baden Powell to come, Baxter has plenty to play for.

Season best: Baxter’s leading run getters this season are Chris Brittain (291) and Joe Rule (211), while their bowlers have been good, with leggie Yohan Maddege taking 19 wickets (at 14) and Adeel Hussain 15 scalps (at 13 and an economy rate of 2.98).

LANGWARRIN

Ladder: Second (seven wins, two draws, three losses) on 96 points

To come: Sorrento (home), Mt Eliza (away)

State of play: Langwarrin leg-spinner Matt Prosser is having the sort of season most can only dream about — he has season figures of 35-217 off 80 overs, at an average of 6.20 and economy rate of 2.71. The magical 50 wicket mark is within reach. Prosser’s dominance is a big reason why Langy is sitting second, poised to launch a premiership bid.

Season best: With the bat, Langwarrin has plenty of firepower with Tom Hussey (304 at 30.4) at the top of the order, Prosser (220 at 27.5) and Travis Campbell (158 at 22.57), while former Victorian player Jayde Herrick (168 runs and 12 wickets) could have a big say in finals.

Golden summer: Langwarrin leg-spinner Matt Prosser has taken 35 wickets.

MORNINGTON

Ladder: Seventh (three wins, two draws, seven losses) on 48 points

To come: Red Hill (home), Sorrento (away)

State of play: Mornington started the season with a bang but has struggled to get on a roll, despite having champ Ben Clements and former Tasmanian shield star Jamie Cox at different times. The Bulldogs face Red Hill in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash this weekend.

Season best: The ever-reliable Matt Foon has again been the Bulldogs’ stand out, with 313 runs (at 34.78) and 15 wickets (at 15). Zac Garnett has emerged as the competition’s best young opener, with 304 runs at 30.40.

MT ELIZA

Ladder: Sixth (three wins, two draws, seven losses) on 48 points

To come: Baden Powell (away), Langwarrin (home)

State of play: Mt Eliza has clicked into gear in recent weeks, winning its past two games to ease relegation fears.

Season best: The Mounties have struggled with the bat, with only Ben Tracy (209 at 19) going past 200 runs, while their bowling has been serviceable led by skipper Tom Baron (10 wickets) and Nick Baron (10).

Old Peninsula players have had a lot to celebrate already this season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

OLD PENINSULA

Ladder: First (nine wins, two draws, one loss) on 120 points

To come: Baxter (home), Red Hill (away)

State of play: Having beaten every side this season and sitting 24 points clear on top of the ladder, Old Peninsula can quite rightly lay claim to flag favouritism. The Pirates are headed for their seventh straight MPCA Provincial finals campaign, and they’ll go there with a side full of talent and hunger.

Season best: Champion batsman Wade Pelzer leads the competition run count with 402, including scores of 55, 56, 74 and 83. The ever-dangerous Dylan O’Malley (217 runs) looks to be running into good form, while skipper Will Crowder, VCCL rep Tom La Brooy and star recruit Justin Grant have been steady rather than spectacular with the bat but are more than capable of firing in the finals. Grant and Crowder have been excellent with the ball, taking 31 wickets between them, and evergreen Johnny Forrest’s experience will be vital in March.

RED HILL

Ladder: Eighth (two wins, two draws, eight losses) on 36 points

To come: Mornington (away), Old Peninsula (home)

State of play: Red Hill’s return to Provincial has brought highs and lows. Who could forget the Slack whack!, when skipper Adam Slack smashed the last ball of the game against Baxter for six to secure a memorable victory. But with only two wins, the Hillmen are stuck on the bottom and facing relegation, unless they can beat Mornington and Old Peninsula in the final two rounds.

Season best: Slack and Tom Collett have been terrific with the ball, taking 16 wickets apiece.

Sorrento batsman Jedd Falck. Picture: Valeriu Campan

SORRENTO

Ladder: Fourth (six wins, two draws, four losses) on 84 points

To come: Langwarrin (away), Mornington (home)

State of play: Reigning premiers Sorrento strung together four wins after Christmas before hitting a speed bump in the form of a loss to Baden Powell last week. But Bobby Wilson’s Sharks will be there when the whips are cracking in March.

Season best: Wilson sits second on the comp runs list with 327, and has peeled off three successive half centuries as he gets his eye in ahead of finals. Stylish left-hander Jedd Falck has been excellent at the top of the list with 273 runs at 30, along with Corey Harris. Paceman Jake Wood leads Sorrento’s wicket count with 15 (at 21), while Wilson (14) and young swing bowler James Rulach (13) have had their moments.