Victorian Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Several young guns and a debutant stole the headlines in Premier Cricket at the weekend as a champion batsman just kept scoring. Here’s our Premier Team of the Week.

It’s incredible just how much playing depth there is across Victorian Premier Cricket.

Another weekend of action brought about some different names standing up for their respective sides.

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

NICK TARANTO (Frankston Peninsula)

From a golden duck to an unbeaten century … the Heat opener was the success story of the round. His maiden ton, 100 not out, set up Frankston’s win over Essendon at Windy Hill and was reward for persistence in his second stint at Premier Cricket.

DANIEL SARTORI (Footscray)

The Bulldogs’ opener romped to a second unbeaten century this season, driving 103 runs off 106 balls in their victory over Prahran. Has 268 runs to his name so far.

JACK LALOR (Northcote)

Set his side up for yet another victory this season with a haul of 94 runs from 131 deliveries against Melbourne, including eight fours and a six. The all-rounder has been a driving force behind his side’s ladder-leading season to date, knocking 302 runs at an average of 60.4.

Jack Lalor is enjoying a standout season for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

LIAM BANTHORPE (Fitzroy Doncaster)

Lifted the Lions to a thrilling win over Casey South Melbourne with his 100 not-out effort from 133 deliveries, saluting in the 48th over as they chased down the Swans’ 209. The keeper has 189 runs for the season, and opened the batting at No. 1 on Saturday after taking fourth spot in his previous appearances this season.

HAYDEN BUTTERWORTH (Geelong)

The champion left hander batted beautifully to make 98 off 116 balls, narrowly missing out on his 11th century when he nicked one to the keeper. Still, the innings set up the Cats’ hefty 9-307. Butterworth was bitterly disappointed when his side lost on the second last ball of the match after Camberwell Magpies mounted a rousing run chase.

Hayden Butterworth for Geelong.

JOSH BARTLETT (St Kilda)

The St Kilda gun couldn’t have done much more for his side as they made it five wins on the trot with a big victory over Kingston Hawthorn. Bartlett scored an unbeaten 68 runs from 49 balls including a whopping 7 sixes before backing it up with the ball claiming two wickets.

LIAM FITZPATRICK (Camberwell Magpies)

It was a captain’s knock from Fitzpatrick, putting on 91 runs from 95 balls in his side’s nailbiting chase-down of Geelong’s 307 total. Has 230 runs for the season so far at an average of 38.3.

JAI LEMIRE (Carlton)

The wicketkeeper took a catch, had no byes and top scored with an unbeaten 51 in the Blues’ comfortable win over Greenvale Kangaroos. Lemire’s 77-ball stay included 7 fours and 1 six and was his second half-century of the season.

DEVLIN WEBB (Casey South Melbourne)

The teenager showcased his star qualities in a losing cause against Fitzroy Doncaster. He smacked an unbeaten 30, with 1 four and 1 six, at No. 10 to boost the Swans’ total to 209. He then claimed three wickets with the ball, confirming his status as a true all-rounder.

Michael Topp was crucial in Northcote’s win. Photo: Hamish Blair

KRISTIAN JAMES (St Kilda)

Another budding star on the rise out of St Kilda? In a stunning First XI debut, James claimed 5-52, the only five-wicket haul in the men’s first competition across the weekend. He had taken seven wickets in the Second XI previously.

MICHAEL TOPP (Northcote)

Topp and Northcote enjoyed a fantastic weekend as they won the battle of the heavyweights against Melbourne. Topp was in brilliant form with the ball taking 3-42, the final three wickets of the game, to close the door on Melbourne late.