Rounds 8, 9 & 10

KOOKABURRA PREMIER CRICKET

RINGWOOD continues to set the benchmark in Kookaburra Premier Cricket - the Rams are the only undefeated team after Round 7 and have opened up a nine-point break at the top of the ladder. The Rams also head the CV Club Championship table narrowly from CARLTON and GEELONG. But the Rams are not invincible, with the Bulldogs and the Swans completely outclassing them in first two rounds of the separate Kookaburra Twenty20 competition.

MELBOURNE began the season strongly, but although the Demons sit in second spot, successive losses to CARLTON and ST KILDA in the two two-day fixtures have certainly halted their momentum.

Although PRAHRAN had a hiccup in Round 6, bowled out for just 39 and losing by an innings to the Heat, they have bounced back well with a fine win over CARLTON at Toorak Park in Round 7.

CARLTON is in fourth spot, with just the two losses (to RINGWOOD and PRAHRAN) to date. Evan Gulbis and Nathan Pilon are both in excellent form with the bat with two centuries each.

GEELONG, currently fifth, boasts the leading runscorer and wicket-taker in Premier Cricket. Liam Buchanan tops the batting, with 566 runs at 80.86, while right-arm quickMarc Carson heads the bowlers with 19 wickets at 20.16. Buchanan has been brilliant in the past two matches, scoring 245 against the Swans and 143 against the Kangaroos, innings that contained an amazing 57 fours and 8 sixes.

Only eight points separates sixth-placed ESSENDON (19) from seventeenth-placed FOOTSCRAYEDGEWATER (11), so the three rounds in the lead-in to the Christmas break could well define some clubs' seasons. Crucial matches coming up include:
Round 8     DANDENONG v MELBOURNE
                  ST KILDA v PRAHRAN
                  CARLTON v ESSENDON
Round 9     PRAHRAN v DANDENONG
                  ESSENDON v ST KILDA
                  RICHMOND v CARLTON
Round 10   DANDENONG v ESSENDON
                  ST KILDA v RICHMOND
                  GEELONG v RINGWOOD

It is a positive indicator for Premier Cricket that there is no such thing as an "easy game" for any club. CASEYSOUTH MELBOURNE is transforming some of the promise from 2008-09 into victories and has also won both of its Twenty20 matches. HAWTHORNMONASH UNI, who most believed would struggle after the off-season upheavals, have won their past two matches against the Tigers and the Bulldogs. Apart from Liam Buchanan's two magnificent batting performances in Rounds 6 and 7, we have been privileged to witness some other fine efforts. With the bat, Saints' skipper Graeme Rummans scored a superb century against the Demons and maiden tons to Daniel Salpietro, Brent Fairbanks, Ryan Heywood and Justin Lindsay were all important milestones. With the ball, breakthrough spells by Louis Cameron, Dan Mueller and Jeremy Hart helped their clubs in those games.

WOMEN'S PREMIER CRICKET

Round 3 of the Essteele Cup Premier Firsts competition saw two matches played in regional Victoria. Secondplaced Dandenong took on Brighton District in Churchill while Essendon Maribyrnong Park returned to form with a big win over Box Hill in Warrnambool. For Dandenong Captain Sarah Elliott led the way with 87 (her lowest score of the season!) as the Lions set Brighton District 289 for victory. In reply, Brighton District was dismissed for 93 thanks to the bowling efforts of Julie Hunter (3/15), Naomi Fullwood (2/12) and Laura Croft (2/19).

Winless after two rounds, 2008/09 runners up Essendon Maribyrnong Park bounced back with a 236-run win over Box Hill inWarrnambool. Melanie Jones (64) and Molly Strano (34) got the Bombers off to a strong start and, with support from the middle order such as CassieBrock (47), Emily McIntyre (31), Candace Hulett (31) and Briana Binch (33*), the Bombers set the Mustangs the massive total of 334. Skipper Rachael Haynes got Box Hill off to a positive start but after being dismissed with the score on 59, the Mustangs fell away to be all out for 98. Stand-in skipper Kristen Beams the best for EMP with 2/5 off 8.

Brunswick Park has continued its Premiership form, picking up a bonus point in all one day matches so far. Asix-wicket win over Bundoora Old Paradians in round 3 was followed with another strong performance in round 4. VicSpirit opener Elyse Villani provided the highlight of round 4 scoring a century off just 58 balls as the Parkers raced to EMP's total of 210 in just 33 overs. With the form of fellow VicSpirit players Jessica Cameron, Emma Inglis, Renee Melton and Kathleen Hempenstall, along with reigning Una Paisley winner Catherine Morrow, the Parkers look the team to beat again in 2009/10.

Other round 4 matches saw Sarah Elliott score her third century for the season in Dandenong's 55 run win over Bundoora OP. In four innings, the VicSpirit star has scored 467 runs at an average of 154. Box Hill returned to the winners list with a 99-run win over Brighton District with the return of Meg Lanning proving invaluable for the Mustangs. The top order bat scored an unbeaten 148 off 113 balls, earning her a call-up to the VicSpirit team to face Queensland.

With Women's National Cricket League action played last weekend, no Premier Firsts matches were scheduled.

In the Essteele Australis Cup Premier Seconds competition, a 10-wicket win in round 7 has put Brown Hill six points clear and undefeated at the top of the ladder. 2008/09 Player of the Year winner Beth Taylor has continued where she left off last season, leading the bowlers with 11 wickets.

A nail-biter saw Brunswick Park over the line in the final over against EMP with Julie Calvert scoring an important 67 for the Parkers.

Dandenong's improvement continues with a 3-wicket win over Coburg. Belinda de Feyter continues to show why she is a prized recruit for the Lions with a handy 36 at the top of the order.

MILESTONES

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