Premier Cricket: Trent Lawford takes his second five-wicket haul of the season

Fitzroy Doncaster quick Trent Lawford is again on track to break the 50-wicket barrier this Premier Cricket season after another five-wicket haul against Camberwell Magpies.

Trent Lawford on his way to 6-45. Picture: Rob Leeson

Fitzroy Doncaster quick Trent Lawford is again on track to break the 50-wicket barrier this Premier Cricket season after another five-wicket haul on Saturday.

Lawford claimed Camberwell Magpies openers Daniel Rawson and Ben Rowles before sweeping through the lower-order to help bowl the home side out for 234, finishing with 6-45 from 25 overs, including eight maidens.

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It was his second five-for in 2018-19, taking his tally to 23 for the season, not including the 5-24 he took in opening round of the Super Slam.

Chris Moore bends his back. Picture: Rob Leeson

Lawford won the 2017-18 Ryder Medal after taking 62 wickets for the season.

“Lawf was outstanding again, just unbelievable,” Fitzroy Doncaster captain Ejaaz Alavi said.

“He just keeps getting the job done week in, week out.

“You just throw the ball to him and he’s ready to go at any stage. When you need someone to take a wicket, he stands up and does it.”

Under grey skies and on a green-tinged wicket, Alavi had no hesitation in bowling first.

Rawson and Rowles were watchful in their approach, content to let the moving ball travel through to gloveman Liam Banthorpe. But Lawford ended the 47-run opening stand, removing both in quick succession to have Camberwell 2-50.

Lawford also grabbed the crucial scalp of Tom Russ (18) and ended a dangerous 53-run seventh-wicket stand between Dylan Hodge and James Rosewarne when he had the latter caught behind.

The 30-year-old capped his day with the wickets of Andrew Fekete and Hodge as Camberwell was bowled out in 88 overs.

But Fekete ensured the contest remained in the balance at stumps when he had Zac Elliott (4) trapped lbw with the second last ball of the day.

Chris Moore puts in an appeal. Picture: Rob Leeson

Medium-pacer Zac Parr also provided a feel-good moment when he grabbed his maiden First XI wicket for Fitzroy Doncaster when he bowled English import Lewis McManus (8).

Parr has played 111 games across the Lions’ seconds, thirds and fourths since joining the club in 2010-11, finishing with the respectable figures of 1-41 off 12 overs on debut.

He was the Lions’ fifth debutant this season.

Alavi said the contest was still in the balance.

“It’s going to be tough work we know next week,” he said.

“Camberwell has a really good bowling attack with Fekete, (Will) Walker and (Matthew) Whittaker in particular.

“It’s going to be tough work for our batters but if we can negotiate that new ball and get through the first session, we can go really deep into the game.

“It will be a long day of cricket, it’s going to be tough work and it’s probably not going to be won in the first couple of sessions.”