Victorian Premier Cricket Team of the Week for season opener

There was no shortage of standout performances in the season opening round of Victorian Premier Cricket. See who made our best team.

The Victorian Premier Cricket season finally arrived on Saturday and it was well and truly worth the wait.

Across the board, there were a series of impressive performances headlined by a stunning century from Carlton captain-coach Evan Gulbis.

Meanwhile, Melbourne University had three players selected after a hard fought win over Greenvale Kangaroos.

Here is Leader Local Cricket’s Premier Team of the Week.

1. EVAN GULBIS (Carlton)

The Blues captain-coach got the season off to a rollicking start, belting 116 — his 22nd century in Premier Cricket. Gulbis cracked his third ball for six and went on to hit 13 fours and 4 sixes in his 105-ball stay — all this in his 200th game for Carlton. The 36-year-old admitted he was feeling sore after the game, no surprise given he ran a half marathon in the days leading up to the season opener.

2. CONNOR HAYES (Greenvale Kangaroos)

After playing just eight First XI games last season, the Kangaroos opener made the perfect start to ensure he will get more opportunities with a 91-run performance in his side’s loss to Melbourne University. Hayes played a lone hand at the top of the order with 11 fours and 2 sixes in his 106-ball stay at the crease producing just under half of his team’s score. Without him their score might have been a lot less than 185.

3. SAM HARPER (Melbourne)

The brilliant keeper-batter is seeing them like beach balls. A fortnight ago he peeled off 132 not out for Victoria in a Sheffield Shield game and on Saturday he blazed 86 not out off 74 balls, with 8 fours, for the Demons in their win over St Kilda. Harper went in at 2-116 and steered his side to 6-293, in the process sharing a 109-run third wicket partnership with Melbourne skipper Blake Thomson (80). Capping a great game, Harper took three catches behind the stumps and didn’t concede a bye.

Sam Harper carried on with his brilliant form for Victoria. Photo: Getty Images.

4. ANDRE YAKSENDER (Melbourne University)

Yaksender played almost the perfect innings to guide the Students to a first up win after coming to the crease with his side in big trouble a 2-30 before losing his teammate shortly after. Didn’t look to power his away to a half-century with just six boundaries in his innings. This was his best performance since Round 3 last season.

5. DAVID KING (Ringwood)

King started and finished the job for Ringwood in its victory over Footscray. With the ball he finished figures of 1-15, claiming the scalp of Umair Butt to close out the host’s innings. The experienced Ringwood gun arrived at the crease with his side at 2-30 and staring down the barrel of defeat before he played a calm innings of 71 runs off 119 balls to get his side across the line. King also had two catches.

6. JAMES BILLINGTON (Prahran)

The right-hander gave a timely reminder of his ability with a knock of 76 off 89 balls to set up the True Blues’ 7-210 against Fitzroy Doncaster. A couple of years ago the 26-year-old emerged as one of the competition’s best batters, with Prahran people regarding him as a future first-class player.

Prahran batsman James Billington started the season strongly.

7. MAX HATZOGLOU (Melbourne University)

Possibly couldn’t have performed any better on his First XI debut. Coming in with Uni struggling at 3-32, the youngster showed great composure to post 58 runs from 59 balls including 4 fours and 2 sixes. Hatzoglou shared a matchwinning 98-run stand with Andre Yaksender. He capped off a great performance with two catches.

8. DOUG WARREN (Melbourne University)

The left-arm off-spinner claimed bragging rights among the spinning community at Melbourne University this weekend after finishing with figures of 4-29, the best of any Premier Firsts player. He was the only Students player to bowl his full 10 overs and eventually claimed the wicket of Connor Hayes who showed strong resistance for the Kangaroos.

9. FERGUS O’NEILL (Melbourne)

What a month it’s been for the 22-year-old swing bowling all-rounder. A few weeks ago he made a sparkling Sheffield Shield debut for Victoria against South Australia, dismissing Travis Head to grab his first wicket. On Saturday, O’Neill wove more magic with the ball in the Demons’ win over St Kilda, taking a wicket first ball and finishing with 3-35 off 10 overs. He also dismissed his state teammate Peter Handscomb as the Saints folded meekly.

Nick Boland was the pick of the bowlers for Prahran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

10. NICK BOLAND (Prahran)

The paceman made an impressive start to his third season with the True Blues, taking 4-33 off 8 overs, to derail Fitzroy Doncaster’s run chase. Boland’s fourth wicket had the Lions teetering at 7-113, chasing 211 for victory, and they were shot out for 150. He capped a splendid game with two catches.

11. SAM ELLIOTT (Fitzroy Doncaster)

While his side might have come out on the wrong side of the result against Prahran, Elliott started his season in impressive fashion with bat and ball. He took a team best 3-37 from 10 overs before adding 18 valuable runs after coming in at eight. His bowling figures were his best in two seasons after being limited to five games last campaign.

12th Man: FAWAD AHMED (Melbourne University)

The master leg-spinner was the sixth bowler used by the Students on Saturday but the wait was worth it as he snared 3-22 off 8.3 overs to help round up Greenvale Kangaroos for 185. His haul included his 150th wicket for the club.