Premier Cricket 2022-23: Ringwood’s Tom Rogers blasts 149 not-out in Melbourne Uni rout

It was familiar territory for Ringwood’s Tom Rogers on Sunday as he registered yet another Premier Cricket century.

It didn’t take long for the Ringwood opener to return to his lofty heights.

Tom Rogers blasted 149 not-out of the Rams 5-244 as they chalked up a second win from three starts on Sunday in their 56-run blitz of Melbourne University (188).

Rogers’ day out came off the back of 158 deliveries as he belted 13 fours and four sixes in his fifth century in his last 14 Premier appearances – and ninth career First XI ton – moving to 14th on the Rams’ all-time run-scorers list.

RELATED: The rise of Ringwood’s Tom Rogers

Tom Rogers raises the bat – again. Picture: Stuart Milligan

A showing of 11 runs on Saturday in the loss to St Kilda and a duck in the opening match against Footscray preceded Sunday’s heroics, but he says partnering with Irish import David Delany (33 off 43 balls) helped light the fuse.

“It (the innings) was pretty slow to start to be honest – I blocked them for a good bit of it and then managed to get away at the end,” Rogers said.

“I had a good couple of supporting roles – David Delany came out and smacked them and it sort of really got me going there as well. The big Irish fella’s a legend and I really enjoyed that part of it.

“It was a whole lot of fun – we’ve obviously started the year pretty well as a club so to contribute to that was really nice.”

The young gun enjoyed a sizzling summer last season, knocking 898 runs (most in the comp) at an average of 89.80.

His form earned him several call-ups with Victoria’s Second XI before a showing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash last January.

The 23-year-old has hopes to play the game at a higher level but is quick to brush off the heights of last summer inviting pressure to perform.

Tom Rogers batting for the Melbourne Stars. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I don’t think so – Ringwood have always been really good to me and backed me in and backed me with the way I’ve wanted to bat and facilitated everything I needed to make that possible,” Rogers said.

“I think that sort of place for me is somewhere I feel comfortable and having a group around me who really back me in is a nice feeling.”

Meanwhile, returning fast-bowler Matt Fotia continued his dominant start to the season, claiming 3-27 off 8.5 overs against St Kilda on Saturday, before 4-28 off 10 in the Sunday fixture with Melbourne University.

The weekend’s haul followed a 3-36 effort in the season-opener against Footscray, moving the 28-year-old into the top-10 of the Rams’ all-time First XI wicket-takers at 170.

He missed most of last campaign through injury but is among a host of returning and new names into the Rams’ First XI – including Darius D’Silva, who knocked 82 not-out against St Kilda and former Kingston Hawthorn man Prateek Patil who took a collective 6-60 on the weekend.

“It’s super exciting for us – we feel we’ve got a really good squad,” Rogers said.

Ringwood takes on Carlton at Princes Park this weekend.