Melbourne claims their 22nd Victorian Premier Cricket premiership

Melbourne defeated reigning premiers Carlton by 52 runs on the 1^st Innings, claiming their 22^nd First XI Premiership and first since 2019/20 season.

Melbourne batsman Jack Harper was named as the John Scholes Medallist for the Player of the Final for his crucial innings of 56.

The win wraps up the Premier Cricket Competition for the 2022/23 season.

Other winners this season include Northcote Cricket Club in the Men’s Second XI, whilst St Kilda CC won both the Third and Fourth XI.

In the women’s competition, Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club won the First XI Premiership with a dominant win over Melbourne Cricket Club by 153 runs.

Geelong Cricket Club won the Second XI premiership, which will see them elevated into the Premier First XI competition next season.

Whilst a draw in the Third XI saw Carlton Cricket Club named premiers as they were the higher placed team on the ladder at the end of the season.

“I’d like to congratulate the Melbourne Cricket Club on their victory and on being our Premiers. Commiserations to Carlton who have been consistent performers all season,” Murphy said.

“I’d also like to thank the Essendon Cricket Club for hosting the Final.

“It’s been an outstanding season. We have seen the return of red ball cricket, some outstanding individual and team performances and our women’s competition continues to go from strength-to-strength.”

The season will be celebrated at the Premier Cricket Awards Night on April 28 in the Olympic Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Men’s Premier First XI Summary Scores:

Melbourne 236 (Sam Harper 56, Jack Harper 56, Jack Prestwidge 34, Cameron Stevenson 4/72) & 3/151 (Blake Thomson 60, Charles Lill 41)
defeated
Carlton 184 (Nicholas Ross 68, Lachlan McKenna 40*, Kieran Elliott 4/74, Fergus O’Neill 3/53) & 7(dec)/207 (Mackenzie Harvey 106, Kieran Elliott 3/95)

Click here to see the full scorecard.