Victorian Premier Cricket: Frankston Peninsula signs opener Luke Manders

On-field success and a top-class recruit…it’s all going Frankston Peninsula’s way, with the Heat confirming they’ve secured a high-scoring opener from a rival club.

Luke Manders (right) has joined Frankston Peninsula from Casey South Melbourne. Picture: Andy Brownbill

On-field success and a top-class recruit…it’s all going Frankston Peninsula’s way.

Soon after dispatching Greenvale Kangaroos on Sunday to make it two wins in a row, the Heat confirmed they’d secured Casey South Melbourne opening batter Luke Manders.

“Luke’s joined us,” Frankston Peninsula coach Paul Boraston said.

“He’s moving to the area and looking for a fresh start.

“His stats the last couple of years have been pretty good — 500, 600 runs, at 50 odd, both years — so it’s hard to ignore players like that wanting to come to your club.”

Manders, an aggressive right-hander who has all the shots, was named in Frankston’s first XI for its one-dayer against Melbourne at the Albert Ground on Saturday, but the game was washed out.

Luke Manders on his way to 63 for Casey South Melbourne in the 2021-22 grand final against Carlton. Picture: George Sal

Manders has been one of the leading opening batters in Premier Cricket in the past two seasons, scoring 671 runs and last season 518, and was pivotal in Casey South Melbourne’s charge to the grand final in 2021-22.

He blitzed 107no off 86 balls against Essendon in January, 2022 and a few weeks later 116 off 97 against Camberwell Magpies.

Manders shared several big opening partnerships with Ashley Chandrasinghe.

He hasn’t played any games this season.

“He was looking for somewhere new and he was keen to continue playing Premier cricket,” Boraston said.

“He’s relocating towards the peninsula with his family. It sort of all worked out in a way.”

Meanwhile, another recruit was at the heart of Frankston Peninsula’s commanding nine-wicket victory over Greenvale at Butler Oval last week.

Jackson Isakka batting in the Strike League Cricket Final in Darwin. Picture Katrina Bridgeford

Former Sydney grade all-rounder Jackson Isakka took 2-4 and made an unbeaten 70 off 82 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes, as the Heat rolled Greenvale for 101 on Saturday and then coasted to 1-141 off 29 overs on Sunday.

Isakka found his way to the Heat through a friendship with Heat player Brodie Symons — the pair played together in Darwin.

“He was looking for a bit of a move, maybe a fresh start, a new state,” Boraston said of Isakka.

“He had a really good breakout game.

“He hadn’t been bowling for a while, he’s had some injuries but he’s been building up at training. He came in and went bang, got two in the first over and had some good ball speed.”

Symons grabbed 3-28, James Nanopoulos 2-35 and Aidan Lenehan 1-12 as Frankston Peninsula dominated proceedings from the start.

Isakka and opener Jai Elcock (63no) came together at 1-1 and shared an unconquered 140-run partnership.

Elcock’s 90-ball stay included 6 fours and 2 sixes.

Frankston Peninsula has climbed to eighth spot.