Premier cricket 2021-22: Jackson Freeman, Tom Rogers fire again in Rams’ victory

Ringwood pair Jackson Freeman and Tom Rogers led from the front again as the Rams defeated Richmond on Saturday.

It was an all-too-familiar sight for Ringwood as Tom Rogers and Jackson Freeman led the way in the Rams’ six-wicket victory over Richmond on Saturday.

A blistering 4-42 display from Freeman helped keep the Tigers to 7-241 before Rogers spearheaded the Rams’ 4-242 total in reply, with 86 runs from 97 balls, alongside skipper David King (69 from 104).

Freeman’s haul comes following a 3-39 performance in the loss to Fitzroy Doncaster last round, while Rogers backed up a 109-run effort.

Freeman consigned the hosts to 3-46 by the 13th over after dismissing the Tigers’ top-order within five overs, as Yash Pednekar (8 from 20 balls), Shobit Singh (21 from 41) and captain Dominic Matarazzo (0 from five) fell cheaply.

Jackson Freeman took 4-42 in the victory. Picture: Steve Tanner

And when David King (1-47 off 10) claimed Tigers’ No. 5 Zac Sleeman in the 18th over, the home side fell to 4-59.

“That really set us on the right track yesterday,” Ringwood coach Sean Flynn said.

“We only got three wickets last week, and (Freeman) got all three, and yesterday, he had our first three again, so he’d taken the first six of the season.

“To take 4-42 off 10 is a huge effort and he was super-important for us.”

The Rams ran out six-wicket victors. Picture: Steve Tanner

But the Tigers recovered from their earlier collapse through the handiwork of Andrew Humphries (87 not-out) who combined nicely with Jake Fraser-McGurk for 49 runs, Sam Mills for 45 and Mitchell Perry for 77.

Fraser-McGurk finished with 43 runs, while Perry registered 35 not-out and Mills knocked 28.

“They (Richmond) batted really well in the last 10 overs, getting 70-80 and we were a bit flat after that, but to Humphries’ credit he played a good innings,” Flynn said.

Flynn credited the “brilliant partnership” of Rogers and King in reply, with the pair putting on 122 after Josh Hartill’s early dismissal felled the Rams to 1-4 at the end of the third.

“After a bit of a tight start, we really got on top and Rogers led the way for us,” Flynn said.

Rogers backed up last week’s century with 86. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The match also marked all-rounder Ian Holland’s return to the side, as he knocked 40 runs off 38 deliveries and formed a strong partnership with King following Rogers’ dismissal in the 29th over.

“We managed to get back-to-back partnerships after that … David and Ian (Holland) put on (68 runs) after that which was super-important for the run chase,” Flynn said.

The Rams’ chase was complemented by former Tiger Adam Amin (26 runs off 26 balls) and Joe Loorham (8 not-out off six deliveries), while Mitchell Perry led the bowling for the hosts with 2-23 off 10 overs.

Ringwood hosts Carlton in Round 4, while Richmond is away to Geelong.