Premier Cricket Team of the Week: Some of the competition’s best stood tall in round 17
With the Premier Cricket season heating up, the competition’s best naturally rose to a new level and it was reflected in our Team of the Week. See who made the cut.
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When the matches intensify, the cream rises to the top.
Premier Cricket’s biggest names stood tall in round 17, earning selection in the Team of the Week.
Did we get it right?
1. Brett Forsyth (Dandenong)
The Dandenong champion struck his fourth century of the season — 23rd in Premier Cricket overall — and carried his bat the entire innings. He faced 274 balls and struck 13 boundaries down at the Cattery. Forsyth’s got 771 runs at 85 heading into the final round of the season, where the Panthers take on Greenvale Kangaroos.
2. Ash Chandrasinghe (Casey South Melbourne)
Another ton for the scrupulous opening bat. He batted through the Swans’ innings for an impressive 159 not out. He’s got three hundreds this year and the fifth-placed Swans have claimed victory in each of those matches.
3. Tom Scott (Camberwell)
The left-hander only debuted in the Magpies’ First XI in October, with the weekend yielding a maiden ton at the level with 125 runs off 254 balls, driving 19 boundaries including four sixes in the loss to Northcote.
4. Jack Lalor (Northcote)
The Northcote gun’s second century of the season played a major role in the Dragons chasing down Camberwell’s mammoth 8-340. Lalor scored 110 from 164 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and a pair of sixes, before Mark Phelan (70 not out) sealed Northcote’s five-wicket win. The ton has launched Lalor into the top-10 run-scorers for the season with 473 at an average of 36.38.
5. Lachlan Sperling (Casey South Melbourne)
The loyal Swan scored his maiden Premier first XI century in his 156th match, bringing it up with a six against Melbourne University. He finished unbeaten on 104 off 66 balls, with 14 fours and 3 sixes.
6. Jai Lemire (Carlton) (WK)
The old cricket adage ‘one brings two’ applied for the talented wicketkeeper-bat as he struck his second century just days after his maiden ton. Lemire steered the Blues to a big total against Prahran, scoring 153 from 222 balls with 11 fours and three sixes.
7. Tom Russ (St Kilda)
The all-rounder was dominant in the Saints’ win over Frankston, making 86no and taking 4-53. It was his third half-century of the season while he’s up to 24 wickets at 19.8.
8. Jay Vine (Footscray)
The Dogs spinner claimed a career-best 7-52 from 29 overs on day one of Round 17. Vine removed both Ringwood openers Jackson Freeman and skipper David King and grabbed the key wickets of Tom Rogers and Lachie Bangs too. It restricted the Rams to 184 but it wasn’t enough for Footscray as it fell to a 94-run loss. Vine is now up to 22 wickets on the season, at an average of 14.95, good enough for 15th overall.
9. Sam Beer (Prahran)
The paceman toiled manfully to take 5-83 off 24 overs against Carlton. He eventually dismissed Blues century-maker Jai Lemire for 153 and was quickly over to shake his hand, displaying excellent sportsmanship.
10. Cam McClure (Essendon)
It wasn’t pretty for Essendon, losing to second-last Kingston Hawthorn at Windy Hill but McClure can hold his head high after a strong performance. Better known for his bowling, McClure top-scored with the bat, hitting 36 from 62 balls before ripping through the Hawks top-order with the ball. The lanky paceman removed four of the top-six to have Kingston 5-88 at one stage and finished with 5-36 from 16.3 overs. McClure now has 23 wickets at 22.35 this season, ranked 14th overall.
11. Matt Fotia (Ringwood)
The Rams quick made light work of the Footscray batting order, collecting 5-15 off 15.4 overs, including 10 maidens. He’s followed on from a Team of the Year season in 2022-23 with 26 wickets so far from 13 matches.
12. Shobit Singh (Richmond)
The opener top-scored with 103 runs off 195 balls, smacking 12 fours in his side’s draw with Melbourne. It’s far and away his best knock this season, after a previous-best of 48 followed by four weeks of single figures, including a duck against Ringwood last round. What a way to bounce back.
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