Five openers make claims for Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s team of the year so far
Five openers, a trio of dominant all-rounders and one standoutbowler have made the BPCA’s team of the year so far after eight rounds.
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Picking the best XI after eight rounds of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association is a tough ask right from the get-go, with five openers staking their claims with big runs behind them in 2023-24.
Portarlington’s Brenton Toole is top of the pops across all BPCA divisions with 481 runs at 68.7 and a highest score of 167 in A2, while Armstrong Creek’s Clay Mulgrew has hit 381 runs at 76.2 in A1, to be the second most prolific.
With Toole also chipping in with eight wickets at 19.2, they’re both locks.
Anglesea opener and keeper Tyron Norman (356 runs at 50.8 in A1) can take the gloves while the feats of Collendina all-rounder and vice-captain Corey Walter (262 runs at 52 and 14 wickets at 12 in A2), is impossible to ignore, too.
Their selections squeeze the likes of Shane Murdoch, who usually bats at four for Winchelsea, further down the list while Demon Stephen Illingworth finds a familiar spot at six.
Illingworth has had a fine all-round season with 17 wickets at 13 apiece to go with his 191 runs at 31 in A2.
Murdoch has also backed up his batting (averaging 86) with 14 wickets at 11.8, after making the switch from Bell Park.
There were a few tough omissions, from St Leonards’ Kanishka Nawagamuwa with 322 runs at 46 while chipping in with seven wickets at 29, and Troy Griffin (284 runs at 40 with four half centuries and nine wickets at 27).
Equally, Collendina recruit Stan Grazotis has been super consistent for the Cobras: 187 runs at 37 while taking 11 wickets at 12.
However, St Leonards opener Brian White has been exceptional for St Leonards (217 runs at 36, 13 wickets at 12) and deserves a nod.
With the ball, Drysdale’s Blake Dobbin has been the standout in all BPCA divisions, with an incredible 23 wickets at just eight runs apiece.
The Hawks have demolished teams this year, with team totals of 27, 49, 64 and 69 the best examples of their devastating work.
Then there’s Barwon Heads spinner Daniel Donaldson, who leads all A1 bowlers with 15 wickets at 14.
Collendina’s Ted Farrell (15 wickets at 10) is third on the A2 bowling table behind Dobbin and Illingworth while Barrabool’s James Fisher (14 wickets at nine), second on the A1 table, rounds out the squad, after returning from a knee injury.
BPCA’s best XI so far in season 2023-24
Brenton Toole
Portarlington
Toole has been an unstoppable force for the Demons this year at the top of the list, never more so than a 152-ball 167 against Wallington in Round 6 at Oakdene Oval.
The most prolific batter in all senior divisions, by 100 runs from his nearest rival Clay Mulgrew, Toole is averaging 68 an innings and has hit the largest number of boundaries (63) of all BPCA senior batters.
Clay Mulgrew
Armstrong Creek
Second only to Toole for total runs, Mulgrew has smashed 381 of them at an average of 76 this summer with a highest score of 108 with 13 boundaries against Inverleigh, out of a team total of 176.
Mulgrew is also A1’s top boundary hitter, with 47 for the season so far, to go with his eight sixes.
Corey Walter
Collendina
The Cobras vice-captain has thrived being back at his old club, striking 262 runs at an average of 52 with scores of 90 not out against St Leonards and an unbeaten 100 against Newcomb.
He also finds himself within A2’s top five for bowlers, with 14 wickets at 12.
Stephen Illingworth
Portarlington
A fine all-round season so far for the Demon, A2’s second most prolific bowler with 17 wickets at 13 and an impressive economy rate, plus 191 runs at 31.
Shane Murdoch
Winchelsea
Murdoch has made a seamless switch from Bell Park, compiling 258 runs at 86 with a highest score of 108 and taking 14 wickets at 27 — best figures of 4-11.
Tyron Norman
Anglesea
Norman goes to the Christmas break on a personal high after belting 112 against Armstrong Creek, and sits in second place for the most prolific run scorer in either A1 or A2.
Has hit the highest number of sixes across A1 and A2 competitions with 14 maximums.
Brian White
St Leonards
Opening for St Leonards, White has contributed two scores of significance (85 against Newcomb and 101 versus Surfcoast) while taking an exceptional 13 wickets at just 12 apiece.
Beat stiff competition from teammates Brian White and Troy Griffin to find a spot in the best XI.
Daniel Donaldson
Barwon Heads
The Seagulls spinner leads the A1 bowlers with 15 wickets at 14 apiece, forming a formidable partnership with Sam Schaller.
Blake Dobbin
Drysdale
Leads all comers in every division in the BPCA with 23 wickets at the stunning average of eight — Dobbin has been the biggest reason why Drysdale have destroyed four opponents this year for under 80 runs.
With the best figures of 6-24 against St Leonards, who were bowled out for 49, Dobbin has been in career-best form this summer so far.
Also took 5-22 when Newcomb was rolled for just 27.
Ted Farrell
Collendina
Farrell has been A2’s third most prolific wicket taker so far this summer (15 poles at 10), with the best figures of 6-10 from 9.5 overs against Wallington in Round 5.
James Fisher
Barrabool
Behind only Donaldson for wickets in A1 this summer, Fisher has made a triumphant return from knee injury to take 14 poles at nine from seven games as Barrabool sits in second place at the Christmas break.
Has a stunning economy rate of just two runs an over.
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Originally published as Five openers make claims for Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s team of the year so far
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