Premier Cricket 2023-24: Brendan Rose torches Footscray with 7-22

Tigers paceman Brendan Rose ripped through Footscray in his side’s opener on Saturday, setting the tone for the season according to the skipper.

IT was a sizzling start to the season for the Richmond paceman.

Brendan Rose tore through Footscray with a 7-22 haul off 10 overs, almost single-handedly knocking the hosts over for 105 by the 36th over on Saturday in the Tigers’ eight-wicket victory.

Richmond co-captain Sam Mills said Rose looked ‘on’ from early in the piece, claiming opening pair Nathan Caulfield (1) and Footscray captain Dylan Brasher (2), before soon consigning Arjun Nair to a duck, plunging Footscray to 3-9.

Rose didn’t relent from there.

Brendan Rose. Picture: Supplied

“He set the tone with his first spell … a really high-quality spell putting the ball in the right area and was able to get it moving around,” Mills said.

“It was good to win the toss and have a bowl on a wicket that had a little bit in it for the seamers, and ‘Rosey’ was incredible and put the ball in the right area, and got the key wickets of Brasher and Nair.

“It (7-22) is an amazing return.”

The co-captain said Saturday’s showing ticked all the boxes, spearheaded by Rose’s heroics.

“It sets the tone for season, really,” Mills said.

“We said we wanted to come out with really good intent, energy and engagement in the field, and it’s easy to get around it all when you’ve got a bloke bowling that well.”

Meanwhile, Mills took 2-21 off 7.3.

The Tigers finished the job in reply by the 29th over, with Shobit Singh (27 runs off 53 balls), Dan Scholz (25 off 43) and unbeaten stands from Rhys Healy (21 off 42) and Jonathan D’Rozario (27 off 40) lifting the visitors to 2-106.

“Getting the bonus points is a great start as well … and the openers Dan and Shobit did a great job with the new ball and it was pretty comfortable from there,” Mills said.

Richmond hosts St Kilda at Central Reserve this weekend.