Premier Cricket 2018-19: Fitzroy Doncaster opener Matthew Bremner hits fifth career century
Matthew Bremner went from fringe player to century maker after bringing up his fifth Premier Cricket ton against Melbourne University.
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Matthew Bremner went from fringe player to century maker after bringing up his fifth Premier Cricket ton against Melbourne University on Saturday.
Bremner hit 118 in Fitzroy Doncaster’s total of 282 at University Oval, crunching 10 fours and a six in 247 deliveries.
The 29-year-old opener has largely been a fixture in the Lions’ Second XI but posted his first First XI century since December 2015 to ensure honours were shared.
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Bremner said he was “pretty much on my last legs” in the firsts after three single-digit scores in the past month.
Always pleasing to see cricketers get the most out of themselves. So well done to Fitzroy-Doncaster opener Matty Bremner, a fighter to his fingertips. Made his fifth century in @vicpremcricket yesterday.
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) February 17, 2019
“It was more a sense of relief just because playing in such a good side and a healthy batting group, when you’re on the edge of playing ones and twos, every time you get an opportunity in the ones you’re pretty much playing for your position,” he said.
“It was very satisfying and a big relief now I can go out there and relax a bit more, try enjoy my batting a bit more and kick on and make some more scores leading into finals.”
Bremner and Jack Rudd (34) made a strong start on a difficult batting wicket, with quicks Steven Reid and Wes Agar receiving appreciable movement and bounce.
“It was doing a fair bit early and it was almost doing too much. Every time you played and missed you were missing it by half a foot,” Bremner said.
“Just had to play the line of the ball pretty much the whole first two sessions but you knew at Melbourne Uni, once you get in on that pitch, you’ve got to make the most of it because early on there is usually a ball that has got your name on it.”
The openers collaborated for a 64-run stand, the Lions then falling to 6-139 after a collapse of 3-15 when Peter Dickson (6), Liam Banthorpe (1) and Trent Lawford (6) fell in quick succession.
But Bremner and captain Ejaaz Alavi (31) turned the game back in the Lions’ favour with a 61-run stand before late flourishes from Sam Elliott (20 not out) and Chris Moore (27).
“I just gave Ejaaz a text message before saying how proud I was of our partnership to get us back in the game and it was a massive turning point in the context of the game,” Bremner said.
“Now we’re in a pretty good position but it is still 50-50.”
Leg-spinner Ben Rolfs finished as the pick of Uni’s bowlers with 4-59 from 18.4 overs.
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