Runs, wickets galore in the Round 2 Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Premier Cricket finally kicked off its season on Saturday and there were plenty of superb performances. We’ve picked the best in our Team of the Week.

Fitzroy Doncaster ace Jack Rudd. Picture: Steve Tanner

Premier Cricket made it’s long-awaited return on Saturday with runs and wickets galore.

We’ve put the best performances together in our Team of the Week, including a trio of centurions.

Three players from Melbourne feature and two each from Fitzroy Doncaster and St Kilda, underlining those clubs’ big wins on the weekend.

Ringwood, Northcote, Carlton and Prahran are also represented while a pair of Richmond stars carry the drinks.

Jack Rudd scored a century for Fitzroy-Doncaster. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Tom Rogers scored a ton for Ringwood. Picture: Stuart Milligan

1. JACK RUDD (Fitzroy Doncaster)

First picked this week with his effort of 120 not out from 133 balls against Ringwood – in his 100th First XI match no less. The century marked the sixth of his Premier career as he lifted the Lions to a seven-wicket win over the Rams. Started slowly, but was ably supported at the other end as he found his way in. “Once he got himself into the game, he didn’t look like getting out. It was a great knock to witness,” Fitzroy Doncaster captain Ejaaz Alavi said.

2. TOM ROGERS (Ringwood)

It was little surprise to see the young gun get his season off to a flyer, knocking 109 runs off 118 deliveries to help set the visiting Lions a 241-run chase. Formed a dominant partnership with new recruit Adam Amin after the Rams fell to 2-28, the pair combined for almost 100 runs to right the ship. To the Lions’ great relief, Rogers’ innings came to an end in the 43rd over at the hands of Charlie Simondson. The performance marked the opening bat’s fourth century in less than 12 months.

3. HARRISON SMYTH (Carlton)

Smyth’s first Premier Cricket century since 2018-19 couldn’t have come at a better time for Carlton. Walking to the crease at 1-27, Harrison anchored the Blues innings as wickets fell around him. He finally raised the bat and finished 100 not out in a 127-ball stay at the crease – including a stagging 18 boundaries – to help Carlton post 5-237 against Essendon at Windy Hill. It proved match-winning as the Bombers fell 103 runs short in the chase.

Harrison Smyth on his way to a century for Carlton against Essendon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

4. BLAKE THOMSON (Melbourne)

The opening batsman shuffles down to No.4 in the Team of the Week after helping set his side up for a big win. Blake smacked 85 runs from 121 balls – including six fours and a six – opening the batting. He went the distance too, dismissed in the 45th over after he had combined nicely with Fergus O’Neill for around 80 runs to really stretch Greenvale Kangaroos in their chase, which fell short by 42.

5. JACK LALOR (Northcote)

It was the Lalor Show at Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday as the young all-rounder produced match-winning performances with bat and ball. Lalor scored a classy 77 not out off 90 balls, forming key partnerships with Mark Phelan (71 runs) and Max O’Sullivan (99 runs) to steer the Dragons to 4-239. He then took two wickets in his first over, Frankston Peninsula opener Vishesh Bansal and Akshay Kodoth falling in quick order. Overcoming cramp, he returned late to wrap up the tail, snaring three of the last four wickets and finishing with 5-22 off just 6.1 overs.

6. FERGUS O’NEILL (Melbourne)

Twice rescued the Demons when it looked like Greenvale Kangaroos might just pinch an upset. First, coming in 3-64, he and skipper Blake Thomson put on 79 runs for the fourth wicket before O’Neill fell for 41. Then with the ball, the Kangaroos were looking dangerous at 0-137 before O’Neill turned wreaking ball, removing openers Josh Trembearth (66) and Jack Potticary (56) and UK recruit Tom Cullen (four) and finishing with figures of 4-36 in nine overs. A superb all-rounder show.

Patrick Rowe hit 75 for St Kilda. Picture: Valeriu Campan

7. PATRICK ROWE (St Kilda) (WK)

Damaging performance for the young wicketkeeper-batsman as he led the way with 75 runs from 113 deliveries, including seven fours. Followed up with three catches and a stumping behind the stumps in a haul that included the scalps of Kingston Hawthorn captain Shorye Chopra and opener Ramneet Dhindsa, who looked dangerous at the crease. Opened the batting for St Kilda but will have to shuffle down the order in the Team of the Week.

8. TODD MURPHY (St Kilda)

The 21-year-old off-spinner took 4-29 off 10 overs, including the most sought-after Kingston Hawthorn wicket of all. He stopped Thaveesh Attanayake in his tracks, dismissing the No.1 bat for 42 after he’d made the most of 65 deliveries before making light work of the middle order – Romain Grenville (one), Matthew Vorbach (two) and Joel Lewis (11) as the Hawks fell for 160.

9. NICK BOLAND (Prahran)

What a start to the season for the Boland family. While Scott earnt an Australia A call up after his sensational start, Nick was on fire for reigning premier Prahran against Casey-South Melbourne. The big quick finished with 5-40, including the key wickets of Ash Chandrasinghe (28), Lachlan Sperling (18) and Harrish Kannan (77). With the True Blues in a bit of trouble in the chase, Boland also showed his resilience with the bat, scoring 19 and sticking around in a 35-run partnership with Blake Parsons but to no avail.

Nick Boland steams in for Prahran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

10. CHARLIE SIMONDSON (Fitzroy Doncaster)

Played a pivotal role in the Lions’ season-opening win, taking 4-40 off 10 overs – including the scalp of Ringwood century-maker Tom Rogers to bring the Rams’ charge to a halt and keep the run target within reach. He also swung the momentum earlier in the piece, with some crucial dismissals in the Rams’ middle order- getting rid of Joseph Loorham for a duck, Arjun Dhull (six) and Jackson Freeman (16).

11. DARCY MUNRO (Melbourne)

A dream start for the 18-year-old quick, capturing 5-14 off 8.5 overs in his Premier Cricket debut against Greenvale Kangaroos. Munro is one of six Demons in the extended Australia Under-19 squad for the World Cup in the West Indies early next year and showed his class on Saturday. After Fergus O’Neill made the breakthrough, Munro dismantled the Kangaroos middle order, making quick work of skipper Matthew Harrison (two), Scott Dixon (seven), Harry Singh (11) and Michae Archer (duck).

12. REILEY MARK & YASH PEDNEKAR (Richmond)

The Tigers teammates can share the drinks duties after narrowly missing out on selection in the XI. Pednekar scored a handsome 85 from 124 balls, the same as Blake Thomson, but misses out as his score took three balls longer and he didn’t hit a six. Stiff, very stiff we know. Mark, meanwhile, took four wickets but went for a few more runs than his rivals. We’re sure the wickets of Uni captain Fergus McKenna and Alex Yaksender are probably bigger achievements anyway.