Rounds 6 & 7

KOOKABURRA PREMIER CRICKET

As the initial flurry of one-day matches draws to a close, the next four rounds in Kookaburra Premier Cricket will be the more sedate and traditional two-day format of the game with white clothing and red Kookaburras.

But the coloured clothing and white balls don't disappear for long! The Kookaburra Premier Twenty20 Cup commences on Sunday 8 November with, for the first time, all four Premier grades participating.

The season has been chock-full of highlights and outstanding performances. Carlton's Evan Gulbis has been in sensational form, with scores of 40, 85, 83, 119 and 4, to head the aggregates with 331 runs @ 66.20 from Hampshire Seconds player Benny Howell (281 @ 70.25), enjoying a season with Camberwell Magpies. Ten centuries have been scored.

Pacemen Robbie Cassell (13 @ 9.15) from Melbourne and St Kilda's Dan Babula (11 @11.00) top the wickettakers, but it has been encouraging to see as many as seven spinners in the leading bracket - Daniel King (Ringwood), Michael Beer (St Kilda), Sam Taylor (Richmond), Nathan Allen (Northcote), Joe Roberts (Camberwell Magpies), Tim Buszard (Carlton) and Nathan Hrovatin (North Melbourne) have all bowled economically and taken good wickets in the first five rounds.

MELBOURNE, RINGWOOD, PRAHRAN and CARLTON head the ladder, with the early form indicating that these four could again be the teams to beat. ESSENDON, NORTHCOTE and CASEYSOUTH MELBOURNE have all shown promising signs of improvement, while GEELONG, FRANKSTON PENINSULA and FOOTSCRAY EDGEWATER have all been erratic - capable of brilliance one week, then disappointing the next.

WOMEN'S PREMIER CRICKET

VicSpirit stars Emma Inglis and Sarah Elliott enjoyed terrific starts to the Essteele Cup Premier Firsts season, both scoring centuries in round one.

Inglis, the Spirit's vice-captain and wicketkeeper, made 103 off 125 deliveries as Brunswick Park reached 7/280 having successfully chased down Essendon
Maribyrnong Park's 215 in a rematch of last season's grand final.

For EMP, VicSpirit player Kristen Beams (68) and Melanie Jones (64) were the Bombers' best. The other star of round one was reigning Sharon Tredrea
Trophy winner Sarah Elliott, who smashed 114 off 84 balls as Dandenong beat Bundoora Old Paradians by 85 runs.

Elliott's knock included 21 boundaries as the Lions made 4/187 (dec) before rolling Bundoora-Old Paradians for 102. Elliott chipped in with the ball as well, claiming 2/11 off eight overs with her off-spinners with Carin Eastburn also showing early form for the Lions with 6/13.

In the other round one match, VicSpirit captain Rachael Haynes top-scored with 49 as Box Hill accounted for Brighton District's first innings total of 97.

With round two reverting to one day matches, Dandenong and EMP played off for the Redderz Cup, a 17-year tradition between the two clubs. A thriller saw
the game live up to expectations with Dandenong claiming a one wicket win thanks to an unbeaten 137 from their Captain, Sarah Elliot. Other matches saw
Brunswick Park continue their Premiership form with an 8 wicket win over Box Hill and newcomers Brighton District claim their first Premier Firsts win with a 73 run win over Bundoora Old Paradians. Captain/Coach Leanne Leggieri led the way with 47.

In Premier Seconds, Jane Neil (EMP) has provided the standout performance with the bat so far with an unbeaten 138 off 131 balls as her team claimed top spot. With the ball, Dandenong's Grace Cannon was a star in round one with 6/17.With most matches affected by weather so far, round four happily saw a full round completed.

MILESTONES

We pay tribute to the following players and officials who have celebrated, or are about to celebrate, milestones: MORE

PHOTO QUIZ

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DOWNLOADS

Round 6, 7 & Twenty20 Fixtures (48.28 KB )	Womens Premier Cricket (94.77 KB )
Ladders (124.90 KB )	Leading Players (88.06 KB )
Memorable Matches (67.56 KB )	Outstanding Performances (199.19 KB )
A Look Back (148.77 KB )