Premier Cricket Team of the Week: Geelong pair score big hundreds

TWO monster hundreds from a Geelong pair, a defiant hand from Casey-South Melbourne’s skipper and a Monash Tigers all-round hero feature in the latest Premier Cricket Team of the Week.

Mitch Reid scored a fine hundred for Geelong on Saturday.

OPENERS

Mitch Reid (Geelong) — 161 vs Essendon

The Cats opener batted more than four and a half hours, crafting a 224-ball knock of 161 in Geelong’s victory over Essendon. He put on 262 for the second wicket with Hayden Butterworth and took the game away from the Bombers on day one.

Luke Wells (Casey-South Melbourne) — 154 vs Dandenong

Wells has been in sublime form since joining the Swans and compiled his second hundred of the campaign in a defiant draw against Dandenong. Wells amassed 154 from 261 deliveries and his innings briefly had Casey-South Melbourne in contention for victory chasing 8-369.

MIDDLE ORDER

Mark Phelan has scored two hundreds already this season for Northcote.

Mark Phelan (Northcote) — 112 vs Greenvale Kangaroos

Phelan is second on the Premier Cricket run scoring charts behind Dandenong’s Brett Forsyth after reaching triple figures for the second time this season against Greenvale Kangaroos. The right-hander made 112 from 190 in a near-chanceless innings which earned the Dragons a seven-wicket win at home.

Hayden Butterworth (Geelong) — 129 vs Essendon

Butterworth came to the wicket on Saturday after an early wicket against Essendon and batted the Bombers out of the contest alongside Mitch Reid. Butterworth has got a start in every match since returning to Kardinia Park before going big against Essendon.

James Seymour (Essendon) — 8-98 and 77 vs Geelong

Rarely used as a spin-bowling option last season, Seymour bowled 25 overs and snared eight wickets in a career-best haul against Geelong. He then smashed 77 from 67 balls on Sunday to ignite Essendon’s push for an unlikely win chasing 395. The Dons eventually fell 109 runs short.

Jordan Kight (Footscray) — 134 not out vs St Kilda

What a way to produce your maiden First XI hundred. Kight announced himself with 134 not out from 241 balls after Footscray had been in trouble at 5-81 on Saturday. His 121-run stand with Hamish Winter-Irving took the score beyond 200 and Kight showed maturity beyond his years to bat positively with the lower-order.

WICKETKEEPER

Tim Ludeman had a memorable day for Geelong on Sunday. Picture: Josie Hayden

Tim Ludeman (Geelong) — Seven dismissals vs Essendon

A remarkable match behind the stumps for a man regarded as one of the country’s most accomplished glovemen. Ludeman snared six catches and completed a stumping to have 12 dismissals for the campaign.

BOWLERS

Trent Lawford took five wickets for Fitzroy Doncaster. Picture: Hamish Blair

Dom Matarazzo (Monash Tigers) — 106 and 4-38 vs Melbourne

A superb all-round match for Matarazzo, scoring his second Premier hundred after Monash had been wobbling at 5-69 on day one. The Tigers posted 295 but the Dees produced a sterling chase to prevail late on Sunday despite four wickets from Matarazzo in a 20-over spell.

James Nanopoulos (Dandenong) — 86 and 4-75 vs Casey-South Melbourne

Much like Matarazzo, Nanopoulos did all he could to will Dandenong to victory against the stubborn Swans. There was hope late on Sunday for the Panthers when he snared the wicket of Luke Wells, but Casey-South Melbourne held on for a draw. Nanopoulos’ 86 came from 118 balls on Saturday.

Trent Lawford (Fitzroy Doncaster) — 5-46 vs Ringwood

The Lions needed early wickets to have confidence defending 208 against the Rams and Lawford provided the goods. He claimed the key scalp of Ian Holland for six and although Ringwood’s lower-order rallied, the damage had ultimately been done.

Cameron Stevenson (Carlton) — 5-59 vs Prahran

The ex-Tassie quick was the pick of the bowlers for Carlton on Saturday and then added a valuable 20 on Sunday to get the Blues over the line by a wicket chasing 261.