See how made our Premier Cricket Team of the Week in Round 5
It might have been the first week back from the Christmas break but there was no shortage of standout performances in Round 5 of Premier Cricket. See who made the cut.
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It might have been the first week back after the Christmas and New Year break but that didn’t reduce the quality of Premier Cricket in Melbourne.
Round 5 was full of eye-catching performances with bat, ball and in the field.
The selection panel at Leader Community News has come together and picked the Team of the Week in Victoria’s pre-eminent cricket competition.
After an impressive win over Essendon, Carlton dominates the line-up with three inclusions, while nine other clubs are represented.
1. SCOTT EDWARDS (Richmond) (WK)
The wicketkeeper-batsman produced a splendid hand of 121 from 108 deliveries at the top of the order as the Tigers defeated Kingston Hawthorn by 75 runs. Edwards is averaging almost 50 this season and is a key player for a Richmond side missing its trio of state squad members because of Big Bash League duties.
2. DAN SARTORI (Footscray)
Sartori delivered what proved a match-winning knock, steering the Dogs to a five-wicket victory over Geelong. The experienced right-hander finished with 107 from 125 balls at No.4 but has been promoted to open in our side given he is a proven player against the new ball.
3. JOSH SUNDBERG (Northcote)
The Northcote No.3 scored his maiden Premier Cricket century against Camberwell. Having converted from fast bowler to top-order batsman four seasons ago, it was reward for effort. Sundberg’s unbeaten 123 came off 133 balls and included 10 boundaries and three sixes.
4. TOM SMYTH (Carlton)
With Brayden Stepien absent and the Blues wobbling at 3-30 against Essendon, Smyth and Nick Ross completed a superb rescue mission as they combined for a 223-run stand. Smyth belted 111 from 107 balls, with Carlton cruising to a 115-run triumph to remain undefeated.
5. NICK ROSS (Carlton)
Ross doesn’t attract the same attention as some of his teammates at the Blues, but his 113 from 118 balls under pressure was his seventh First XI century for the club. Ross has established himself as one of the leading middle-order men in the competition.
6. ANDREJ YAKSENDER (Melbourne University)
Melbourne University’s star middle-order batsman failed to post a half-century in the first four rounds, but his 112 against Greenvale Kangaroos lifted his season return to 214 runs at 71.3. The Students are hard to beat when Yaksender is firing.
7. BRODIE SYMONS (Frankston Peninsula) (Capt)
The rookie captain starred in the Heat’s shock win over Melbourne, posting an unbeaten 78 with the bat before claiming 1-31 and two catches. Symons’ innings helped his side recover from 7-98 to reach 220 as it scored a 74-run victory.
8. XAVIER CRONE (Carlton)
The skilful fast bowler dismantled Essendon’s batting line-up, removing four of its top six on his way to fine figures of 5-30 from eight overs. Crone is enjoying a fine season, collecting 12 wickets at 16.1 apiece from five matches.
9. HENRY THORNTON (St Kilda)
Thornton’s third four-wicket haul in five matches sees him sit atop the Premier Cricket wicket-taker charts, equal on 17 with James Nanopoulos and Blake Parsons. Prahran had no answers for the Saints paceman, although he won’t be happy with a golden duck with the bat.
10. MATT DORIC (Essendon)
Carlton skipper Evan Gulbis has been harder to dismiss than Steve Smith this season but Doric needed only five balls, caught behind for two. The Essendon stalwart toiled hard for his wickets after that and finished with 5-53 from his 10 overs.
11. BLAKE PARSONS (Prahran)
The in-form True Blues spinner is the equal highest wicket-taker in Premier Cricket after five rounds, lifting his season tally to 17 with a haul of 4-18 from eight overs in his team’s one-wicket loss to St Kilda. Parsons has grabbed four wickets or more three times this summer.
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