Victorian Super Slam: Finalists revealed, top performers named
The semi-finalists for the Vic Super Slam have been confirmed after a thrilling final round. We reveal the top performers from the pool stage highlighted by a teenage sensation.
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The semi-finals of the Victorian Super Slam are locked in.
Pool games came to an end on Tuesday night with several results having a big impact on the fixture for the final four.
Melbourne claimed top spot in the Central pool after overcoming St Kilda by four wickets in a final over thriller at the Junction Oval.
Opener Alex Buxton excelled in a move to the top of the order finishing with 78 runs from 40 balls to guide his side to maximum points.
Fergus O’Neill did the damage with the ball taking 4-22 as St Kilda made 6-157 from its 20 overs as Harry Dixon top scored with 45.
St Kilda still qualified as the best second-place team across all three pools after finishing on 17 points.
Casey-South Melbourne secured its place in the final four after getting the better of Dandenong by three wickets.
Wicketkeeper Devin Pollock was the difference between the two sids as he finished unbeaten on 61, his highest score of the season, to guide the Swans across the line with three balls to spare.
Richmond went close to claiming the wildcard position as the best second-placed team after a dominant bowling display set up a three-wicket win against Frankston Peninsula.
Andrew Humphries and Mitch Perry both claimed three wickets to have the hosts all out for 112 before the former hit 41 runs to give his side the platform it needed to get across the line.
But their 16 points for the tournament weren’t enough to see them go through.
Meanwhile, Carlton finished the pool stage unbeaten on the back of a comprehensive 48-run over Greenvale Kangaroos.
Young spinner Lucas Brasher gave an indication of his ability, taking a game high 3-16.
Xavier Crone finished on 36no before delivering 2-9 with the ball.
TOP RUN SCORERS
178 - Andrej Yaksender, Melbourne University
170 - Evan Gulbis, Carlton
161 - Jack Rudd, Fitzroy Doncaster
150 - Thaveesh Attanayake, Kingston Hawthorn
147 - James Seymour, Essendon
131 - Ethan Brookes, Prahran
124 - Devin Pollock, Casey South Melbourne
123 - Jack Nightingale, Melbourne University
121 - Mark Phelan, Northcote
120 - Matt Wilson, Dandenong
LEADING WICKET TAKERS
10 - Lucas Brasher (Carlton)
9 - Ikroop Dhanoa (Fitzroy Doncaster), Thomas Nelson (Camberwell Magpies)
8 - Matt Wilcox (Prahran), Lachie Busk (Essendon), Sam Mills (Richmond)
7 - Musa Hussain (Essendon), James Nanopoulos (Frankston Peninsula), Joe Medew-Ewen (Northcote), Brodie Symons (Frankston Peninsula)
FINAL ROUND PREVIEW
The final round of the Victorian Super Slam season is here with finals spots on the line for every team except for Carlton who have guaranteed top spot in the West pool.
It comes as some big inclusions headline this week’s do-or-die round including two towering fast bowlers.
Footscray’s Jake Reed will return from a hamstring injury he sustained in November and new St Kilda recruit Zak Evans will make his debut for the club after overcoming a pectoral injury in pre-season.
Reed, a former Victorian first-class cricketer, took seven wickets from his four Footscray matches earlier in the season.
Victorian contracted fast bowler Zak Evans will make his long awaited debut for St Kilda after recovering from a pectoral injury he suffered in early August.
The 22-year-old tore his right pectoral muscle during a pre-season state session which left him out for five months including the start of the Big Bash season.
Evans will lead the St Kilda bowling attack in their vital T20 clash against Melbourne on Tuesday with state teammate Peter Handscomb also set to play.
It will be a special evening for Fitzroy Doncaster who return to their old home Brunswick Street Oval in celebration of their 160-year anniversary from when the club was founded under their old name Fitzroy Cricket Club.
Fitzroy Doncaster will take on Prahran in what will be a crucial game for the visiting side who will need to win to remain a chance of making finals.
See your team’s chances of making the T20 Super Slam finals.
TEAMS IN THE BOX SEAT FOR FINALS
Carlton, West pool: 17 points. NRR: 2.23
Carlton are on top in the West pool, five points clear of Melbourne University with 17 points. The Blues will travel to Greenvale for their final game in the Super Slam campaign. The Blues have just about secured a top spot with their high net run rate of 2.23. It continues their successful run in the tournament since it began in season 2018-19.
St Kilda, Central pool: 17 points. NRR: 1.02
The Saints are on top in the Central pool, three points clear of Prahran with 17 points. A win over Melbourne in their final round game will secure them top spot and a place in the finals.
Casey-South Melbourne, East pool: 15 points. NRR: 0.36
The Bloods are a point clear of Frankston Peninsula in the East pool. A win in their final game against Dandenong will secure a finals spot unless Frankston-Peninsula can pull off a bonus-point win over Richmond and go ahead on percentage.
TEAMS RELYING ON A WIN AND OTHER RESULTS TO MAKE FINALS
Frankston Peninsula, East pool: 14 points. NRR: 0.68
A big game between Frankston Peninsula and Richmond looms as the winner will have a decent chance of taking top spot in the East pool or the wildcard position. If East pool top placed Casey-South Melbourne lose to Dandenong, a win will guarantee Frankston Peninsula a spot in the finals.
Prahran, Central: 14 points. NRR: 0.47
Prahran will take on Fitzroy Doncaster in a must-win final round game. If successful and top placed St Kilda lose to Melbourne, Prahran would progress through to the finals. Otherwise, Prahran may have a chance of making finals through the wildcard position.
Melbourne, Central pool: 13 points. NRR 0.22
A win over St Kilda will give the Demons a chance of making finals through their Central pool but they will be hoping for second placed Prahran to lose. If Prahran win however, they will need a bonus-point victory to make it through and a higher net run rate. Otherwise they will have a strong chance via the wildcard position.
Richmond, East pool: 11 points. NRR 1.48
Net run rate is no issue for Richmond who will need to beat Frankston and have Dandenong defeating top placed Casey-South Melbourne for a finals spot. Otherwise they remain an outside chance to progress through via the wildcard position.
TEAMS WITH AN OUTSIDE CHANCE OF MAKING FINALS
Melbourne University, West pool: 12 points. NRR -0.27
If Uni can gather a bonus point win, they will have a chance of progressing through via the wildcard position. With Carlton having a high net run rate of 2.23 in the West pool, they will need to try and go through to finals via the wildcard position. That means they will be relying on St Kilda to win their game which would keep their chances alive pending on other results as well including Frankston, Prahran and Casey-South Melbourne.
Essendon, West pool: 11 points. NRR: 0.32
A bonus-point win over Melbourne University and some net run rate would give Essendon an outside chance of making finals but they rely on multiple results to go their way.
Footscray, West pool: 11 points. NRR: 0.22
The Dogs will travel down the highway to take on Geelong in their final round game. A bonus-point win over the Cats and some net run rate would give the Dogs an outside chance but an unlikely one with multiple results needing to go their way.
T20 Super Slam points system
Four points for a win. Two points for a tie/no result. One point for a ‘bash boost’ point for the team with the biggest score at comparison at the end of 10 overs for each innings.
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