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Box Hill skipper Rebecca Carter scored her 3rd century of the season last weekend and her 2nd against Dandenong.

Round 14 last weekend saw the weather play a major part in the restriction of action played on the day, with only 2 x Men’s 1^st XI matches played and a scattering of lower XI games also commencing. Due to this result, all matches scheduled for Round 14 (1^st & 2^nd XI) and Round 13 (3^rd & 4^th XI) have now been deemed abandoned, with a new Round 16 (1^st & 2^nd XI) and Round 15 (3^rd & 4^th XI) added with the games now being replayed as One Day matches.  

This round will likely shape the run of the last round of matches, with some clubs’ Finals campaigns to be over if results go the wrong way (if not already over after last weekend’s washout).

Dandenong (10^th) host Melbourne (5^th) at Shepley Oval. The Panthers continue to find their Finals chances alive after a strong win against the Monash Tigers to keep them just 4 points behind 8^th placed Essendon, while the Demons are in the middle of the logjam of teams fighting for a Top 4 spot, with only 2 points separating them and 3^rd place (currently held by Carlton). The Panthers have secured 17 points in the last 3 rounds, while the Demons broke a 2-game losing run with victory over Carlton and both sides will be keen to keep their chances alive. On current form, I expect this game to be closer than expected and feel that the home ground advantage may see the Panthers win it.

Prahran (7^th) play Carlton (3^rd) at Toorak Park. The True Blues kept their chances of breaking their recent Finals drought alive with victory over Frankston Peninsula, while the Blues dropped 1 spot on the ladder after losing to Melbourne. Both sides have had some unavailabilities in recent rounds but have regained their services for this game. With the game revering back to a white ball match, this game will take on extra focus as both sides have been quite strong in this format across the season. On current form, the advantage will have to go with the reigning Premiers to rebound from last round’s result.

Footscray (2^nd) host Fitzroy Doncaster (13^th) at Mervyn G Hughes Oval. The Dogs appear to have rebounded sharply from their horror run last season with another victory, this time over Ringwood, while the Lions were on the receiving end of a loss to their former ‘bunnies’ in recent seasons Melbourne University. The Dogs’ run has been even more meritorious with the injuries they have experienced, with several bowlers out at present, while the Lions appear to be near full strength. The Lions still have a mathematical chance of making it but on current form this appears to be unlikely, with the Dogs taking in the home ground advantage. Dogs to win on current form.

The Greenvale Kangaroos (17^th) host Frankston Peninsula (16^th) at Greenvale Reserve #1. For both sides this could be their last chance to secure points for the season and give themselves some positives for planning for the 2020/21 season. Both sides have improved this season on the batting front, while the bowling has continued to be the weaker area for both sides. The key battle I see in this game will be between Brodie Symons (Heat) and Sean McNicholl (Kangaroos), with both young bowlers having the potential of being the match-winner for their side. On current form, I think the Kangaroos have a slight advantage playing at home to take the points in this match.

The Monash Tigers (15^th) host Geelong (11^th) at Central Reserve South. The Tigers were simply outclassed by Dandenong last round, while the Cats appear to have just about dashed their hopes of another Finals appearance, despite only being 5 points behind 8^th placed Essendon. The young Tiger cubs have been on a learning curve this season and in most games have been quite competitive, which gives them positives for future seasons, while the Cats need to find a way to expose this if they want to keep their season alive. On current form, the Cats will go in with the advantage but I fear their Finals chances have been washed away after last weekend’s rain.

The Camberwell Magpies (9^th) host Essendon (8^th) at Camberwell Sports Ground. On paper, this is a sudden-death game for both sides as the winner is likely to find themselves inside the top 8 and the loser fighting to keep it alive. The Bombers would have been left ruing their chances after having Northcote on the floor, only for the Dragons to roar out of nowhere on the last wicket, while the Magpies have rebounded strongly with an Outright over Kingston Hawthorn. Over the last 6 rounds, the Magpies have earnt 28 points to the Bombers 12 and this momentum might just be the thing that gets them a Top 8 position if they can contain the Bombers’ batting card early.

Northcote (4^th) host Melbourne University (1^st) at Bill Lawry Oval. Another clash that will shape the make-up of the Finals series, with Uni holding a 7-point buffer in top after defeating Fitzroy Doncaster last round, while Northcote pinched victory from the jaws of defeat against Essendon. Both sides have missed Finals for a few seasons and their current appearance inside the Top 8 is positive to see, with both sides capable of pushing their campaigns deep into the Finals series. On current form, I think Melbourne University might just have enough experience in their line-up to withstand the Dragons’ advances, despite the game being at the Dragon’s Lair.

Casey-South Melbourne (14^th) host Ringwood (12^th) at Casey Fields #4. The Swans had the better of the drawn game against the Greenvale Kangaroos, while the Rams were outclassed by a determined Footscray side, with the loss effectively ending their chances of Finals cricket this season. The Swans have been one of the better batting units in terms of output but have one of the weaker bowling line-ups in the competition, while the Rams have improved in the bowling this season. On paper, I feel that both sides are strong batting and the battle will go down to the bowling, where the Rams appear to have enough of an advantage to take the points.

Finally, St Kilda (6^th) host Kingston Hawthorn (18^th) at the Harry Trott Oval. The Saints are down the lower end of the position shuffle for spots between 2^nd and 7^th after their 2-wicket win over Geelong, while the Hawks were on the wrong end of an outright against the Camberwell Magpies. The Saints have been struggling a little with the batting, with no-one breaking out for a big innings but that could change against the Hawks attack, who has taken the fewest wickets in the competition this season but have been stronger with the bat. On current form, the Saints should win well and will be looking to use this match as a chance to find some form for some players.  

Women’s Premier Cricket is also quickly closing into Finals time, with only 2 rounds now left to play and the make-up of the Top Four is now all but finalised.

Highlights from the weekend were:  

• Dandenong pulled off one of the big upsets of the season, hanging on by 8 runs in a high-scoring game against Box Hill at Shepley Oval. The Panthers were led by the efforts of Kim Garth (49 & 3/42), Nicole Faltum (53), Jess Matin (50), Maryam Omar (49) and Chelsea Moscript (2/54), while the Mustangs were best led by skipper Rebecca Carter (102 – her 3^rd century of the season), Zoe Griffiths (61 & 3/34), Stephanie Butler (26 & 2/37) and Danielle Montague (3/45);
• Carlton-Brunswick effectively put the final nail in Melbourne’s title defense chances with a 35-run win at the Albert Ground. The star for the Strikers was skipper Addy Campion (31 & 6/38), while support from Eve Sheehan (47), Courtney Hagen (25) and Ella Baulch (2/13) saw the Strikers with the win and a bonus point. For the Demons, Erika Quinn (3/20), Anna O’Donnell (3/35), Jess Couser (26) and Katie Haszeldine (26) were their best; and
• Plenty Valley returned from Ringwood with the win and a bonus point after their 44-run win over Ringwood at ‘The Rock’ (the game having been switched due to the condition of Russell Lucas Oval after Friday’s downpour). For the Bats’, their best were Sophie Reid (32) and Grace Jones (5/17), while the Rams were best served by skipper Bhavisha Devchand (41 & 3/27) and Hailey Ferris (2/17).

Saturday’s Top Two match between Essendon Maribyrnong Park and Prahran was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Round 12 will likely see whether the Top 4 positions are locked up come Sunday Night or whether the fight pushes into the last round.

On Saturday, Essendon Maribyrnong Park (1^st) host Dandenong (7^th) at Aberfeldie Park for the ‘Redders Cup’. The Bombers will be praying that the weather gods are with them and they can get on their home ground to keep their form going, while the Panthers will look to treat this game as their Final for the season and with their current form will be keen to reverse the result of their last match pre-Christmas at the CitiPower Centre, where the Bombers hung on by 2 wickets. On current form, I feel EMP will just have the advantage at home but would not be surprised if the Panthers recent form continues strongly.

On Sunday, Box Hill (3^rd) host Melbourne (6^th) at Box Hill City Oval. The Mustangs were just on the wrong end of the result in a high-quality match against Dandenong last round, while the Demons struggled to find enough contributors with the bat in their loss to Carlton-Brunswick. The big challenge on current form will be if the Demons can restrict the Mustangs’ batting card, with Mustangs skipper Rebecca Carter coming close to a 1,000-run season across both formats and in red hot form. Last time these two sides met at the Harry Trott Oval, Box Hill took the chocolates and on current form they would have to go in as favourites again.

Plenty Valley (4^th) host Carlton-Brunswick (5^th) at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. This match could be the one that finalizes the Top Four as a win or draw will secure the Bats their second-consecutive One Day Finals appearance as they currently hold an 8-point buffer on both the Strikers and Melbourne, with Dandenong another point behind. Both sides are capable of anything on their day and will be keen to play at their best in such an influential match in this season. On current form, I think the experience out of the Bats will shine through and secure their Finals appearance but will be expecting the match to be a close encounter.

Finally, Prahran (2^nd) host Ringwood (8^th) at Toorak Park. The last time these two sides met at the Ian Johnson Oval, the True Blues scraped over the line on the last wicket and will be hoping that the match is not as close as this one this time around, while the Rams will be keen to finish their season on a high with a high-end scalp to give them some positives for season 2020/21 planning. The big battle in this game will be to see how the Rams’ young attack goes against the True Blues batting card, as there could be some early pressure on the line-up if their top order comes out firing. On current form, the True Blues will have to go in as favourites in this encounter.

MILESTONES:

The following Milestone was achieved during play in the last weekend prior to Christmas:

• Anna O’Donnell (Melbourne) took her 150^th Premier 1^st XI wicket when she dismissed Carlton-Brunswick’s Stephanie Hutchins.

MEN’S PREMIER 1STS

ROUND 16 (RESCHEDULED) – SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY (11:00am Start)

DANDENONG V MELBOURNE at Shepley Oval

Umpires D Ireland & G Bawa

PRAHRAN V CARLTON at Toorak Park #1

Umpires S Pitts & R Birch

FOOTSCRAY V FITZROY DONCASTER at Mervyn G Hughes Oval

Umpires S Olufson & L Uthenwoldt

GREENVALE KANGAROOS V FRANKSTON PENINSULA at Greenvale Reserve #1

Umpires L McKay & R Hubbard

MONASH TIGERS V GEELONG at Central Reserve South

Umpires A Medina & L McCabe

CAMBERWELL MAGPIES V ESSENDON at Camberwell Sports Ground

Umpires M van Eck & B Davies

NORTHCOTE V MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY at Bill Lawry Oval

Umpires J Leonard-Scott & M Malmberg

CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE V RINGWOOD at Casey Fields #4

Umpires W Downey & T Wendelken

ST KILDA V KINGSTON HAWTHORN at Harry Trott Oval

Umpires B Sheahan & D Brigham

WOMEN’S PREMIER 1STS

ROUND 12 ONE DAY – SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY (11:00am Start)

ESSENDON MARIBYRNONG PARK V DANDENONG at Aberfeldie Park

Umpires G Schembri & V Kerala Varma

ROUND 12 ONE DAY – SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY (11:00am Start)

BOX HILL V MELBOURNE at Box Hill City Oval

Umpires A Ali & S Olufson

PLENTY VALLEY V CARLTON-BRUNSWICK at Yarrambat War Memorial Park

Umpires M Muthugounder & J Wyatt

PRAHRAN V RINGWOOD at Toorak Park

Umpires S Fishley & T Wendelken