Premier Cricket 2020-21: Melbourne University grabs finals spot

Has Melbourne University rediscovered its best at the right time? Skipper James McNeil explains why the Premier Cricket club is chock-full of confidence.

Jarrod Martignago finished the regular season with a century for Melbourne University. Picture: Hamish Blair

Melbourne University will enter Premier Cricket finals riding the momentum of a five-game winning run and safe in the knowledge it is in form at the right time.

Minor premiers in 2019-20, the Students have had a mixed run for much of the campaign and had to wait until the final round to rubberstamp a top-eight berth.

But having not lost since February 6, they have set up a qualifying final clash against Prahran after finishing the home-and-away rounds in sixth position.

Skipper James McNeil said his side’s potent batting line-up and impressive bowling unit had it confident of a strong showing.

“I think we’ve got the best bowling attack in the comp,” McNeil said.

“The coaching staff have done a great job to get our batters in the best touch they can be at this time of year. Obviously we had to win our last five to make finals and it’s a nice way to go in.

“I’m just really proud of the club. It’s an unbelievable group of young men and we’ve got really high-quality people within the club. There’s just a huge sense of pride that comes with being part of this group.

“We’ve got really high expectations of each other, not just as cricketers, but as people.”

Skipper James McNeil at the crease for the Students. Picture: Jay Town

The Students were on the receiving end of a seven-wicket hammering from Prahran when the pair last met in Round 7.

But McNeil said the premiership race was wide open, with all games sudden-death fixtures during the three-week finals series.

“I think any team who gets on a roll could definitely take it out,” he said.

“They (Prahran) are team we definitely respect.

“We had a really average game against them last time we played, but have played really well against them in the past.”

Melbourne Uni tuned up for finals with a seven-wicket win over Kingston Hawthorn in Round 17.

Liam Scammell, who was crowned the club’s most valuable player on Saturday, collected 5-49 from eight overs as the Hawks were rolled for 203.

McNeil described Scammell as “Mr Consistent”, the all-rounder returning 261 runs and 13 wickets this season.

Opener Jarrod Martignago (104 not out) and Fergus McKenna (76) then put on 158 for the second wicket, with the Students finishing 3-206 from 36.5 overs.

“There was some pretty impressive batting on the weekend,” McNeil said.

“Jarrod was amazing and Ferg McKenna was also really good.

“We didn’t want to be peaking in January or February with an April finals series, so it’s a pretty nice time for the batting group as a collective to be hitting their straps.”

McNeil said star batsman Andrej Yaksender’s improved form (he has posted scores of 54, 63 not out and 43 in his past three innings) was also encouraging.

In the other qualifying finals, Carlton will face Fitzroy Doncaster, Melbourne plays Dandenong and St Kilda will face Geelong.