Who made the cut in the Round 14 Premier Cricket Team of the Week

A pair of Demons and Lions and a trio of red-hot all-rounders headline the Team of the Week, recognising the best performances from Round 14.

Melbourne batter Blake Thomson. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Only one century and no five-wicket hauls but the Premier Cricket Team of the Week still has plenty of firepower.

Melbourne duo Blake Thomson and Campbell Kellaway lead the way after a remarkable 183-run partnership while Geelong’s Angus Boyd proved himself a nerveless match-winner.

Footscray’s Max Birthisel leads the attack with plenty of help from Musa Hussain and Jeremy Peacock.

Meanwhile, Ejaaz Alavi, James Nanopoulous and Ruwantha Kellepotha showed they can do it with bat and ball.

There’s a pair of Demons and Lions, a Magpie, Cat, Student, Swan, Heat, Bulldog, Bomber and Tiger in the 12-man squad. Check it out.

Campbell Kellaway with Melbourne skipper Blake Thomson.

1. BLAKE THOMSON (Melbourne)

The Demons captain notched his seventh Premier Cricket century, an unbeaten 100 off 117 balls (13 fours, two sixes), to escort his side to an eye-popping win over Ringwood. Chasing 210, Melbourne (2-214) achieved victory in the 40th over after Thomson and Campbell Kellaway combined for a 183-run second-wicket stand, taking the score from 1-7 to 1-190. The ton takes Thomson to 454 runs, at 45.4, for the season. He’s leading the Demons from the front.

2. JACK RUDD (Fitzroy Doncaster)

A return to form for the Lions’ gun opener with 85 runs off 106 balls against Dandenong, including seven fours and three sixes after a string of quiet weeks. He paired nicely with captain Ejaaz Alavi for an 84-run stand to spearhead the Lions to a 43-run win. Saturday also marked Rudd’s biggest haul since 120 runs in Round 2 against Ringwood.

3. CAMPBELL KELLAWAY (Melbourne)

It was yet another impressive performance from the teenage left-hander, who made an 96 off 107 balls (12 fours and a six). He looked set for his third century of the summer before holing out. Kellaway has had a huge season. He scored his maiden Premier Cricket century in December, followed up with another the very next week and represented the Australian Under-19 World Cup team in the West Indies. Kellaway has the technique and attitude to go a long way in cricket.

Geelong's Angus Boyd. Picture: Mike Dugdale

4. ANGUS BOYD (Geelong)

Angus Boyd walked to the crease on Saturday at Princes Park with his team 4-20 and Cam Stevenson on a hat-trick, he walked off unbeaten and victorious. Boyd rescued the Geelong innings and anchored a remarkable run chase as the Cats tracked down Carlton’s 145 in a four-wicket win. He shared a match-winning 86-run partnership with Daanish Mehta (33 not out) to keep Geelong’s finals hopes alive.

5. BEN SHIELDS (Camberwell Magpies) (WK)

The Maggies’ keeper takes the gloves this week after a crucial role in his side’s upset win over Melbourne University, snaring four catches. Three of those came from the top-order, as he helped send University’s Noah Croes, Janak Prakash and Fergus McKenna on their way, before claiming another at the expense of middle-order bat Daniel Hutton. University was knocked over for 106.

6. EJAAZ ALAVI (Fitzroy Doncaster)

The Lions skipper turned on his best performance with bat and ball this season in Saturday’s win over Dandenong, driving 70 not-out off 90 balls before taking 4-25 off 10 overs. He leads the Lions for wickets taken this season, with 19 at an average of 23.42, while he sits fourth for runs scored with 248.

Ejaaz Alavi in action for Fitzroy Doncaster. Picture: George Sal

Casey-South Melbourne star Ruwantha Kellepotha. Picture: Valeriu Campan

7. RUWANTHA KELLEPOTHA (Casey-South Melbourne)

What a month it’s been for the leg spinning all rounder! He’s produced with bat and ball — often under pressure — as the Swans have stormed up the ladder. On Saturday, Kellepotha, who is arguably the best leggie in Premier Cricket, took 4-37 off 10 to help roll Northcote for 162. He’s taken 15 wickets in his past four games. He then played a gem of an innings, making 32 not out after going in at 5-104 to steer the Swans home.

8. JAMES NANOPOULOS (Frankston Peninsula)

Almost immediately, it was evident it was the Heat skipper’s day against Kingston Hawthorn. He grabbed two wickets in the opening 20 minutes and finished with a season-best 4-20 off 10 overs. The former Dandenong champion then played a vital innings, making 43 from No.5, as Frankston Peninsula banked its fifth win of the season.

9. JEREMY PEACOCK (Melbourne University)

The all-rounder enjoyed a haul of 4-23 off 10 overs against the Camberwell Magpies, highlighted by his dismissal of No.4 bat Liam Fitzpatrick who was firing along in a 47-run partnership. Saturday was just his second First XI match for University after debuting the previous week, following 10 matches and 15 wickets in the Seconds.

Max Birthisel bowling for Footscray. Picture: Stuart Milligan

10. MAX BIRTHISEL (Footscray)

The young Bulldogs claimed the best bowling figures of the weekend, snaring 4-19 in the rout of Greenvale Kangaroos. Held back to second change, he finished with a season-best haul to take his season tally to 22 scalps – No.1 at the club and good enough for eighth overall. He started with the key wicket of Kangaroos skipper Matt Harrison before removing top-scorer Jack Potticary and picking up a couple of late wickets to clean up the tail. A breakout season for the young paceman.

11. MUSA HUSSAIN (Essendon)

Earnt rave reviews from Essendon coach Ash Cavigan after tearing through the Richmond top order on Saturday. Hussain finished with career-best figures of 3-3 and bowled four maidens in his five overs. Combined with James O’Donnell to have the Tigers 5-46 to inspire a seven-wicket win. Has seemingly cemented his place in the senior team and now has 14 wickets in nine First XI appearances this season at a more than respectable average of 15.57.

12. WIL PARKER (Richmond)

It was a superb individual display from the Victoria all-rounder but he couldn’t help Richmond turn the tables on Essendon. Parker walked to the crease at 3-36 and set about rescuing the Tigers innings, hitting 28, before falling to the unluckiest of dismissals. Having smashed a sweep straight at short leg, the ball bounced up in the air and was pouched by the Bombers’ wicketkeeper. Desperately unlucky. The young spinner then showed his potential with the ball, dismissing set openers James Seymour and Isaac Willett, taking 3-3 in the space of two overs and finishing with 3-39 from his 10 overs.