Men’s Premier Cricket heats up

The Men's Premier Firsts quarter-finals will take place this weekend with Fitzroy-Doncaster playing Northcote, Melbourne hosting Carlton, Monash Tigers and Prahran to clash and Ringwood to take on Camberwell Magpies.

With the bat, top of the ladder Fitzroy-Doncaster will be looking to their leading run scorer Nat Vardi. He has scored 543 runs at 45.25 this season with a high score of 171 not out and is likely to be a key player in the match.

In the bowling department, Fitzroy-Doncaster will look to their leading wicket-taker and fast bowler Andrew Perrin to lead the attack.

Perrin has taken an impressive 38 wickets at just 10.95 in only 13 matches this season.

Allrounder Trent Lawford will also have a large role to play and has claimed 38 wickets at 17.85 and made some useful middle order runs.

Their opposition, Northcote, will be hoping opening batsman Solomon Mire can bring his form through from the previous two rounds where he made 45 in the second innings against Ringwood and then his season high score of 122 in the first innings against Melbourne.

With the ball Northcote will hope their leading wicket-taker – Steven Taylor – can continue his good season which so far comprises 22 wickets at 21.41.

Melbourne host Carlton at the Albert Ground and will be looking to opening batsmen, Andrew Kent, to build a good platform.

Kent has amassed 557 runs at 32.76 this season, with his highest score of 91 coming in their second round fixture against Essendon.

With 33 wickets at 21.67 this season, Melbourne will be hoping leg-spinner Brenton McDonald can use the home conditions to his advantage as they look to advance to the semi-finals.

Rivals, Carlton, will be hoping Thomas Smyth can continue his remarkable season, having scored 786 runs at an impressive 56.14, having notched up three centuries this season.

The middle-order batsman and leading run scorer of the competition could well prove the difference between the two sides.

Smyth will also have a role to play with ball in hand, having claimed 19 wickets at 24.00 this season.

Carlton will also look to their leading wicket-taker, Cameron Stevenson, to help them progress to the semi-finals.

Stevenson will look to build on the 24 wickets at 24.25 which he has already taken this season.

Monash Tigers will take on Prahran at Central Reserve North and will be hoping their opening batsman and leading run-scorer, Daniel Sartori, can continue his impressive season.

Sartori has scored 687 runs at 38.17 and has hit three centuries this season, including 108 in the last round.

The Tigers’ captain and experienced cricketer, Allan Wise, has had another good season claiming 35 wickets with his medium-pace at just 13.23 and will be looking to continue his form against the True Blues on Saturday.

Prahran’s opener, Jake Hancock, who is the ninth leading run scorer in the competition, having scored 570 runs at 35.63 will look to build on his successful season and ideally replicate his round six form against the same opposition.

On this occasion he made 149  – his highest score this season.

With the ball, the True Blues will be looking to Matt Wilcox to once again lead the attack.

Wilcox has taken 31 wickets at 17.00 including 6-62 in round 15 against Essendon.

Ringwood will look to the competition’s second leading run scorer and in form opening batsman – David King – to build the innings.

King comes into the match off the back of 136 against Essendon and has accumulated 783 runs at 55.93 this season.

In the bowling department it is allrounder Ian Holland who has proved the most fruitful for Ringwood, claiming 30 wickets at just 15.83 this season and will no doubt be a key player in the quarter-final.

Camberwell Magpies have the third leading run scorer in the competition in their squad – Simon Hill.

The opening batsman has scored 732 runs this season at 40.67 and has two centuries to his name.

In their armoury the Magpies have potent opening bowler, William Walker, who has taken an impressive 40 wickets this season at 17.73.

He comes into the fixture in good form having taken four wickets in each of the past two fixtures.

With every side boasting match-winning players each match should be an exciting contest.

Fitzroy Doncaster who top the ladder, Monash Tigers, Ringwood, Camberwell Magpies and Prahran have all won their last round fixtures and will be hoping their momentum can bring them success in the quarter finals.