We pick our Team of the Week from a bumper final weekend of Premier Cricket
A host of players delivered their finals performances a week early to shape the Premier Cricket top eight. We crammed the best performances of the round into our Team of the Week.
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They were the performances that shaped the eight.
Stars and newcomers stood up in Premier Cricket’s final round of the home-and-away season.
We have picked XII of the best, did we get it right?
1. Aiman Nadeem (Footscray)
While opening partner Dylan Brasher has taken the spotlight for much of the season, young Nadeem has been quietly compiling an impressive season. He came within a whisker of a second Premier Cricket century on day one of the final-round match against Casey-South Melbourne. Nadeem fell for 93 from 120 balls after hitting 10 boundaries and four sixes. He now has 461 runs at 35.46 this season - ranked 17th overall.
2. James Seymour (Essendon)
The Bombers skipper rarely fails to deliver for his club. Seymour raised the bat for the second time this season, the 14th time in Premier Cricket and 13th time for Essendon’s First XI last week and went on to post 120. The 141-ball knock included nine boundaries and four sixes. He also picked up 1-52 from 18 overs but couldn’t stop the Magpies claiming victory.
3. Josh Slater (Dandenong)
The Panthers’ batter has really come of age this year. He made his maiden century earlier in the year and fell an agonising seven runs short in this game. He came to the crease at 2-29 and took Dandenong to 8-294. He lasted 196 balls and hit nine boundaries.
4. Jai Lemire (Carlton)
Lemire is starting to become one of the more prolific batters in the competition. His 76 against a fierce Ringwood attack guided the Blues to a home final. He played a lone hand, being the only Carlton player to pass 28 in its pursuit of 226. Lemire hit eight fours and two sixes — the second a mesmerising lofted straight drive off Ian Holland.
5. Jaga Koduru (Northcote)
What a way to bring up your maiden Premier Cricket century. Koduru’s magnificent 136 not out sealed Northcote’s victory over Melbourne and secured the Dragons a top-eight finish - at the expense of the Demons. It was also on the day the club celebrated the 50-year anniversary of its 1973-74 premiership. Koduru faced 191 balls, hitting 15 boundaries and three sixes, against some hostile pace from the likes of David Moody and Jack Prestwidge.
6. Liam Banthorpe (Fitzroy Doncaster)
The No. 4 bat registered his first ton of the season with an unbeaten 102 to help his side to victory over St Kilda. He finishes the home-and-away season with 454 runs to his name from 13 matches.
7. Ian Holland (Ringwood)
What a gift Holland has been for the Rams since returning in December. Putting up 71 runs against Carlton from 107 balls – including five sixes – he also led the charge with the ball, taking 3-40 off 17 overs.
8. Kobe Smith (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Finished the two-day St Kilda bout with spells of 4-21 and 3-34 to impress in his only First XI match so far this season, helping send the Lions into the finals. What a time to make an impression.
9. Saad Khattack (Kingston Hawthorn)
With flight, drift and sharp turn, the off-spinner grabbed 5-61 off 23 overs to rip through Melbourne University and set up the Hawks’ third consecutive victory. All this in his first appearance in the ones for the season…promoted after a five-wicket haul in the twos - meaning he bagged - 10 wickets in two matches.
10. Roby Lane (Northcote)
The medium-pacer continued his strong form with 4-19 off nine to help dismiss Melbourne for just 109.
11. Reiley Mark (Richmond)
The young off-spinner produced the bowling spell of the season to take 8-48 off 18 overs and up-end Frankston Peninsula for 102 after they were 0-39. The win secured a finals berth for the Tigers and enhanced Mark’s reputation as a rising star.
12. Michael Archer (Carlton)
The leggie has had an excellent year but in this particular match he jagged 4-57 off 15.5.
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