Three Saints lead the Round 3 Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Three Saints and a pair of Students headline this week’s Premier Cricket Team of the Week, an XI stacked with runs and wickets.

Patrick Rowe batting for St Kilda. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Not sure if it’s the first time but it probably won’t be the last … two Fergus’ in the Premier Cricket Team of the Week.

Melbourne Uni’s Fergus McKenna and Melbourne’s Fergus O’Neill were outstanding in their team’s wins on Saturday, dominating with bat and ball respectively.

Three players have gone back-to-back, Paddy Rowe scoring his maiden Premier century, Harrison Smyth standing tall for Carlton again and O’Neill.

Following St Kilda’s big win, three players have been selected, while University has two players in the XI.

Frankston-Peninsula, Prahran, Footscray, Carlton, Melbourne, Ringwood and Richmond are also represented.

Vish Bansal hits out for Frankston Peninsula. Picture: Valeriu Campan

1. VISH BANSAL (Frankston Peninsula)

The young Indian left-hander clubbed nine sixes in a destructive knock of 137 off 108 balls to set up the Heat’s first win of the season. Three balls were lost as he brought up his first century since coming to Australia three years ago. “I haven’t seen anything like that for a long time,” Heat coach Paul Boraston said. “Anything in his arc he just put away.”

2. PADDY ROWE (St Kilda) (WK)

Selected at No.7 in the Team of the Week last week, the former Australian Under-19 player jumps up to open after scoring his maiden Premier century. His unbeaten 126 coming off 152 balls and included 12 fours and a six. Rowe followed up with three catches behind the stumps. The measured, patient knock was a reminder to state selectors of the 20-year-old’s talent after losing his state rookie contract in the off-season.

3. ED NEWMAN (St Kilda)

The left-hander blitzed 105 off 82 balls in only his second innings for the Saints since crossing over from Dandenong. He showed intent from ball one, hit the ball hard and shared a 167-run stand with fellow century-maker Paddy Rowe in a score of 3-306 against Greenvale Kangaroos. It is Newman’s second Premier ton of the calendar year after breaking his duck last season with Dandenong.

Fergus McKenna in action for Melbourne University. Picture: Hamish Blair

4. FERGUS McKENNA (Melbourne University)

The young star doesn’t miss out often and after falling for just 14 last week, a big innings was always likely. McKenna anchored Uni’s innings, forming 81-run and 156-run partnerships with Mitch Domann and Alex Yaksender before bringing up a well deserved century and finishing unbeaten on 112. His 108-ball knock included eight boundaries and a trio of sixes.

5. DAMON EGAN (Prahran)

Walked to the crease with Prahran 0-1 after Nick Blaich was bowled on the first ball of the day and produced a first class innings. When Egan was finally dismissed for 91, agonisingly short of a well deserved ton, he’d taken Carlton from 1-0 to 6-209. Took a catch in the field as the Blues wrapped up a 35-run win over Essendon.

6. HARRISON SMYTH (Carlton)

Backing up a match-winning 100 last week, Smyth again came to Carlton’s rescue on Saturday with a superb 91 against Northcote. After both openers for dismissed at 2-41, a 99-run partnership with brother Tom set up the Blues total of 7-264. Sits fourth on the run-scoring charts after the opening two games with a remarkable average of 191.

Dean Russ in action for Footscray. Picture: Hamish Blair

7. DEAN RUSS (Footscray)

Russ takes the all-rounder spot in this week’s Team of the Week after match-best performances with bat and ball for Footscray. Picked up 2-30 to keep Dandenong under 200 and backed it up with a match-winning 79 not out in the seven-wicket win. Combined with skipper Travis Dean for a 99-run third-wicket partnership to turn the game in the Dogs’ favour.

8. FERGUS O’NEILL (Melbourne)

The swing bowler again proved he is one of the most difficult bowlers to face in Premier Cricket, grabbing 4-11 off 7.4 overs to steamroll Casey-South Melbourne. O’Neill castled young gun Ashley Chandrasinghe to start on his haul and continued to zone in on the stumps.

9. JACKSON FREEMAN (Ringwood)

The 28-year-old bowled with fire to grab the first three wickets and put the Rams on the path to victory against Richmond. He finished with 4-42 off 10 overs, including the key wicket of last week’s Team of the Week bat Yash Pednekar and Tigers skipper Dom Matarazzo, continuing his impressive start to the season following his haul of 3-39 last week.

Jackson Freeman in full swing for Ringwood. Picture: Steve Tanner

10. JOSH BARTLETT (St Kilda)

The left-arm paceman made sure Greenvale Kangaroos didn’t get anywhere near the Saints’ imposing 306 with a clinical display with the new ball. He struck two early blows, bowled a rigid line and length and finished with 4-21 off 10 overs.

11. FAWAD AHMED (Melbourne University)

With Kingston Hawthorn looking dangerous at 3-164, the former Australia ODI and T20I leggie snared the breakthrough wicket of Nivin Sathyajith for 74, triggering a 7-57 collapse. Ahmed had the Hawks’ tailenders in a spin, removing the final three batsmen in quick time to secure the Students a 38-run win.

12. ANDREW HUMPHRIES (Richmond)

For the second week in a row a Tiger will carry the drinks. A fighting 87 not out from Humphries kept Richmond alive after falling to 4-59 against Ringwood. Humphries and Jake Fraser-McGurk put on 49 runs for the fifth wicket before a 48-run sixth-wicket stand with Sam Mills. Thrown the ball late, Humphries got rid of Ian Holland before the Rams wrapped up the win.