Named: Team of the mid-season for every MPCA division

As we near the Christmas break, we’ve recognised the top performers in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association by naming the Team of the Mid-Season in every division.

It’s been an action-packed start to the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association season.

Players have been in cracking form with bat, ball and in the field.

We’ve put our selector’s cap on and named the teams of the mid-season for all four First XI divisions — Provincial, Peninsula, District and Sub-District.

PROVINCIAL

1. Sam Fowler, Dromana: carried his bat to make a superb unbeaten 103 against Old Peninsula and also has scores of 27, 73, 25 and 39. And he’s taken key wickets with his medium pace bowling.

2. Sithum Peiris, Heatherhill: the Haig Fawkner recruit has impressed at the top of the order for the Hills with scores of 61 and 93, while bowling telling spells of spin.

3. Simon Dart, Red Hill: the champion showed his class with 169 against Old Peninsula, going past 300 runs for the season already. And he’s taken key wickets with the new ball in most games, too.

4. Connor Jackson, Pines: scored a breakthrough maiden century (130) against Sorrento. That followed scores of 88 and 43. Has nabbed wickets, too.

5. Rhys Elmi, Baden Powell: the prolific run scorer has peeled off scores of 61, 44, 79 and 81 to again be among the leading performers in the competition.

6. Kierran Voelkl, Dromana: started the season with a run-a-ball 92 and the runs have continued to flow since.

James La Brooy behind the stumps for Old Peninsula and Red Hill batter Simon Dart. Picture: Valeriu Campan

7. Tom La Brooy, Old Peninsula: the reliable keeper-batsman kicked off his season with scores of 67 and 103 while impressing behind the stumps.

8. Harry Gouldstone, Red Hill: the Northamptonshire County player has made an impressive start with scores of 59, 36 and 76 while providing polish behind the stumps.

9. Jack Fowler, Dromana: the former Premier all-rounder has taken wickets in every game this season, with hauls of 3-40, 4-54, 4-48 and 3-64.

10. Ricky Ramsdale, Pines: plays an important role for the Piners with bat and ball. Has taken 10 wickets in the opening six games while consistently scoring runs either as an opener or down the order.

11. Pat Jackson, Pines: his relentless accuracy has proven a headache for rival batsmen. Has hauls of 4-33, 3-49 and 5-49.

PENINSULA

1. Charlie Parker, Mornington: a reliable presence at the top of the Bulldogs order and also behind the stumps. Made 73 against Seaford Tigers in the opening round and put away eight boundaries on his way to 79 against Moorooduc in Round 4.

2. Jack Barbour, Somerville: began the season with 72 against Rosebud and also hit 61 against Long Island. Leads the competition run chart with 248.

3. Ben Williams, Moorooduc: the Ducs captain peeled off 66 and 60 in the early rounds to prove his reputation as an ever-reliable opener.

Liam Collett grips onto a catch for Rosebud. Picture: Andrew Batsch

4. Liam Collett, Rosebud: a vital figure in the Sharks’ top order. Struck two half-centuries in the opening month of the season, displaying sweet timing and determination.

5. Josh Goudge, Mt Eliza: plays proper cricket shots, keeps the ball on the ground and is hard to get out, as he showed with scores of 65, 35 and 67 in the early games.

6. Zac Wilson, Long Island: the leg-spinner started the season with 5-30 and has produced several telling spells as the Islanders have emerged as a contender. His hard-hitting batting is also a key.

7. Matthew Herbert, Seaford: rarely a game goes by without Herbert making an impact, whether it be with the bat in the middle order or with the ball.

8. Patrick Nagel, Rosebud: has provided the new-ball firepower for the ladder-leading Sharks, combining with his brother Ash to take bags of wickets.

9. Ash Nagel, Rosebud: collected a match-winning 5-40 off 23.1 overs against Mt Eliza with relentless stump-to-stump pressure.

10. Rueben Higgins, Mt Eliza: the new-ball bowler has been red-hot, with bags of 5-34, 4-36, 5-57 and 3-42, his accuracy and competitiveness proving a test for batters.

11. Tom Baron, Mt Eliza: produced the bowling display of the season when he captured 7-29 off 21.2 overs and is a regular wicket-taker.

DISTRICT

1. Samson Storey, Boneo: a match-winner with bat and ball, the UK import blasted back-to-back half centuries in Rounds 3-4 and has been a consistent wicket taker.

2. Gordon Waterfall, Carrum Downs: the former Heat batsman has been in the runs in every game (48, 23, 31, 21, 43) and you suspect a big score is just around the corner.

3. Shaun Foster, Carrum: after starting the season with scores of 22 and 37, the experienced right-hander raised his bat for a superb century (102) against Balnarring, reconfirming his class.

4. Sam Field, Flinders: what an exciting young talent! At just 14, Field has peeled off scores of 51, 88 and 57, his star qualities shining brightly.

5. James Abbotts, Carrum Downs: the Englishman quickly stamped his class with a fine 116 against Baxter in Round 3.

6. Dilasri Lokubandarab, Boneo: gets his runs quickly, as he did when he hammered 100 off 64 balls against Main Ridge. That followed scores of 28 and 47.

7. Jake D’Atri, Carrum: the quality all-rounder is having another splendid season, with scores of 58, 43 and 53 and four bags of at least three wickets.

Rob Johnston celebrates a wicket for Carrum Downs. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

8. Robert Johnston, Carrum Downs: the competitive all-rounder thrives in the heat of battle and has had a couple of three-fors as well as a hard-hitting half century.

9. Praveen Fernando, Main Ridge: the off spinner has been impressive with returns of 5-54, 3-24 and 3-62.

10. Isuru Umesh, Boneo: has made early breakthroughs in most games, his swing and accuracy proving a handful for batsmen.

11. Chamika Sattambi, Baxter: the champion paceman nabbed five wickets against Carrum Downs and four against Balnarring, and remains one of the competition’s premier bowlers.

SUB-DISTRICT

1. Jonny Guthrie, Delacombe Park: with three half-centuries and over 300 runs, the classy right-hander has been a standout performer.

2. George Read, Tyabb: the Englishman has shown style and class at the top of the order for the Yabbies, posting scores of 70 and 63.

3. Josh Edwards, Frankston YCW: the busy right-hander gets the Stonecats off to a strong start and has posted scores of 66 and 49.

4. Travis French, Tootgarook: scores runs quickly and consistently, punishing the loose ball. Has scores of 72, 42 and 50 already.

5. Matthew Whelan, Tootgarook: the dynamic left-hander has been in mint form with scores of 72, 41 and 53, as well as regular wickets, including a 5-for.

Justin Bridgeman.

6. Justin Bridgeman, Tyabb: class is permanent with Bridgey, the champion left-hander drumming out scores of 42, 47 and 65 so far.

7. Adam Ciavarella, Rye: the Demons captain has impacted most games, with runs in the top order and multiple wickets as a second or third change bowler.

8. Callum Bradford, Frankston YCW: after starting the season in the twos the right-hander has cemented his spot in the Stonecats’ top order with impressive knocks of 77, 34, 69.

9. Will Borthwick, Ballam Park: the Knights skipper has made an impact with bat and ball, including a fighting half-century against Tootgarook and a match return of eight wickets against Skye.

10. Ravi Pallegaruge, Rye: the left-arm spinner produced the bowling performance of the season against Ballam Park, taking 8-27 off 30.5 overs. Has also been a consistent contributor with the bat in the middle order.

11. Lachlan Hose, Tyabb: the star young spinner has taken hauls of 5-13, 5-42 and 4-27, bowling long economical spells.