Premier Cricket 2025-26: How rival and ‘phenomenal’ knock inspired Lions’ revival
Fitzroy Doncaster’s Premier Cricket season looked just about shot at 0-5 – but a standout showing on Saturday coupled with the inspiration of a rival’s Houdini act has the Lions believing again.
Its season looked just about shot a few short weeks ago amid a winless opening month.
But Fitzroy Doncaster’s second victory has its campaign reignited and back in touch with the finals race.
Led by Jack Rudd with an unbeaten 75 at the crease on Saturday, the heavy hitter lifted the Lions to 5-171 against a ruthless Prahran outfit which fell short in its chase, finishing on 4-153.
Rudd’s effort was complemented by first-year captain Liam Banthorpe with a crucial 47, as the Lions faced the bowling wrath of towering UK county cricket import and Brisbane Heat all-rounder, Paul Walter.
“Jack Rudd’s innings on the weekend was nothing short of phenomenal – the pitch was doing plenty, almost to the point where it was unsafe,” Fitzroy Doncaster coach Matt Bremner said.
“Paul Walter was pretty much unplayable, so it just makes Ruddy’s innings even better considering the circumstances.
“We can’t forget Liam Banthorpe as well – they put on a 100-run partnership in pretty quick time and they were the catalyst in getting us to 171.”
An 86-run drubbing at the hands of St Kilda in Round 5 spelt panic for the Lions, plummeting their record to 0-5. But breaking their duck against Casey-South Melbourne the next round looks to have generated a spark, according to Bremner.
“(We lacked) a bit of consistency in both skills sets, we either batted well or didn’t bowl all that well, or vice versa,” he said of his side’s slow start.
“But we’re embracing what we think is our strength as a club – spin bowling – I don’t think there’s too many teams rolling around with four spinners in their (First XI) line-up.
“We’re trying to throw something different at the competition which is starting to work really well for us.”
And one rival’s Houdini act of yesteryear continues to ruminate as the Lions plot their second-half season charge.
“We’ve taken inspiration from Melbourne Cricket Club a couple of years ago – they were 0-6 leading into the T20s, then after the T20s they won all six and found themselves in the top eight,” Bremner said.
“It’s a long season, we know that, and we just want to peak at the right time.”
It had been an off-season of change at Schramms Reserve with longstanding captain Ejaaz Alavi exiting the post and club stalwart Liam Banthorpe stepping in.
Despite the tough start to the season, Bremner said the new skipper had ticked every box.
“Ejaaz has been a great supporter for Liam and Liam having Zach Elliott by his side as well, but they’re all working really well together,” he said.
“Clearly it’s been a tough start for ‘Banners’ when we were 0-5, but the hardest win is the first one. He’s taken to the captaincy like a duck to water.”
Fitzroy Doncaster, which finished 14th last season, sits 16th on the ladder – and the coach declared there was no room for playing safe, especially this side of the Christmas break.
“We just want to play our way – and ‘fail our way’ is one of our mottos at the moment,” Bremner said.
“If we’re going to lose a game of cricket, let’s do it trying to play the way we want to play.
“Not being safe with the bat, executing with the ball … let’s not defeat ourselves. We think with the structure of our line-up with the four spinners, it’s pretty challenging to play against.”
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