Sub-District best: Our Round 3 Subbies team of the week

Excellent pace and spin bowling, and four centuries highlighted Round 3 of Subbies. Here’s our team of the week.

Mt Waverley coach Michael Sheedy scored a century against Malvern.

Classy centuries and match-turning bowling performances left the selectors with a lot of options when Leader picked the Sub-District team of the week, calling on players from the south-east and north-west sections.

Josh Hahnel (Yarraville)

The Yarraville opener made a rollicking start to the season, hitting 135 not out against Altona in Round 1. Now he has his second century, an even 100, with 12 fours, as he set up his team for 7-245, more than enough to defeat Coburg (123) in the north-west section.

Josh Agar (Caulfield)

The 18-year-old is an emerging player and on Saturday he played his best innings in the First XI as Caulfield chased down Box Hill’s 5-150. His 75 not out came off 115 deliveries and led the visitors to 4-151. “He was brilliant,’’ Caulfield captain Jacob Thorne said of Agar. “It was an outstanding knock, to be honest, pretty much a perfect knock when chasing. Opened up, faced the first ball and was there when we got there. Exciting to see from an 18-year-old. He’s already a good player and he’s going to get better. He’s got shots all around the ground. He’s a proper batsman.’’

In form: Kew’s Andrew Chalkley.

Andrew Chalkley (Kew)

You suspect Chalkley could walk out to bat blindfolded and still score runs. In three hands this season he’s hit 105, 70 and, last Saturday against Taylors Lakes, 114. It came off 78 balls and sparkled with 13 boundaries and 4 sixes as Kew stacked up 8-251 and waltzed to victory again. “The fact we’ve got such a strong batting line-up, it’s given me the freedom to play quite aggressively,” he said on Monday. “Having a power play for 15 overs is the other thing that’s really helped, only being able to have two blokes out while the ball is new is a big advantage for the batsman. Being able to play with three of my close mates and getting Browny (Matt Brown) into the club as well might be a reason why things are going better than usual. Having a few more of my mates playing has bumped my level of engagement up.”

Michael Sheedy (Mt Waverley, captain)

The 39-year-old played a fine innings for his team against Malvern, putting away 12 fours and 4 sixes in his 119 not out, off 108 balls. On the back of it Mt Waverley blitzed 6-242, but the Roosters got the points on DLS after rain arrived. “He batted brilliantly, kept the good ones out, hit the loose ones,’’ Malvern skipper Luke Walker said. “There was a very short boundary – the wicket was on that far side near the school – and he certainly took advantage of that.’’ Sheedy can captain this team too.

Top Bat: Callum Nankervis.

Callum Nankervis (Plenty Valley)

Nankervis has been a good player for the Bats since joining them in 2018-19. He missed out in the first two rounds but cracked 109 against Preston on Saturday to lead PV to an imposing 5-250. There were 5 sixes and 9 fours, and no bowler could contain him.

Amal Athulathmudali (Noble Park)

The burly left-hander, a former Sri Lankan first-class player, thrashed 84 against Bayswater, with 15 fours and 1 six, in a 55-ball stay that took the Parkers to 9-233 and victory. It followed his hands of 66 not out off 33 balls against Elsternwick and 41 off 41 deliveries against Oakleigh. He’s going to win the Kit Kat strike this season. “He hits the ball very hard – I don’t think I’ve seen anyone hit it as hard as he does, to be honest; he gives it a whack – but he plays proper cricket shots,’’ Noble Park president Craig Ortland said.

Rory Collins (Plenty Valley)

The experienced Collins was a Round 2 pick as wicketkeeper-batsman after his knock of 68 against Brunswick. And he’s a Round 3 team-of-the-week pick after his knock of 68 against Preston on Saturday.

Jack Sheppard (Coburg)

The former Footscray and Geelong Premier paceman sets the standard of bowling for the Burgers and he was excellent against Yarraville on Saturday, striking twice with the new ball, returning to take two more wickets and walking off with 4-30 off eight overs. He could have done with some support from the change men; Yarrville hit 7-245.

Monder Rodney Bird.

Rodney Bird (Ormond)

The veteran Monders left-armer is closer to 40 than 30 but he continues to test the best batsmen with the new and old ball. He grabbed an early Elsternwick wicket, came back to take three more and finished with 4-15 off 7.2 overs as the young Elsternwick side fell for 89.

Bhaumik Jani (Hoppers Crossing)

The right-arm offie stands on top of the wicket charts with 11 after his dazzling haul of 6-22 against Ivanhoe. The 31-year-old found some turn in the wicket and he turned the match as the home team, chasing 167, crumbled from 2-88 to all out for 122.

Rizwan Aqeel (Ivanhoe)

The Hoes have found a decent leggie in Rizwan Aqeel, who played two games down the grades last season and not with any great distinction. He captured 4-24 off six overs against Hoppers Crossing, getting two wickets with full-tosses, but landing some good ones too.

Caleb Candappa bowling for Moorabbin.

12th man: Caleb Candappa (Moorabbin)

The 15-year-old St Kevin’s College student made his Sub-District debut on Saturday for the club he joined when he was seven. A batsman and leg-spinner, he took rough treatment in his first two overs but kept him his head and returned to bowl well. He can mix the drinks for the team and watch some seasoned players go about their cricket.