Multi-talented Students out to Tame Lions

Round 13 Preview V Fitzroy Doncaster

After rain lashed Melbourne last weekend and prevented all teams from playing enough cricket for a result, or indeed any cricket at all, the Students are raring to go against Fitzroy-Doncaster in Round 13. A Saturday/ Sunday fixture for the top two grades, the Third and Fourth XI will play a one-day match on the Saturday only. 

FIRST XI

Tantalisingly close to claiming a win against Prahran before rain halted play last Saturday, the First XI are still full of confidence, heading into their clash with eleventh-placed Fitzroy. Playing away at Schramms Reserve, the Students welcome back leg-spinning larrikin, Peter Hatzoglou, and will be able to call on the skill set of Fawad Ahmed on the Saturday, before he plays the Big Appeal T10 on the Sunday. Fawad has been invaluable for Uni in two-day fixtures thus far in 2019/20, boasting the mind-blowing figures of 9/52 with the red ball.

Keep an eye on Isiah Borgas this weekend; in fine form on the crossword and Sudoku during the rain delay last weekend, Borg was literally doing it in his sleep at one point. One could say the same for his batting this year as well; the ever-stylish opener has amassed 435 runs at 48.33 so far in season 2019/20, and will be keen to go big again against the Lions.

TEAM:

MCKENNA

BORGAS

GREGORY

YAKSENDER

YOUNG

MCNEIL ©

MARTIGNAGO +

AHMED

HATZOGLOU, P

REID

STAFFORD

SECOND XI

Playing at the Uni Main for the only the second time since the Christmas break, the Second XI will be looking to entrench themselves on top of the ladder when they clash with fourth-placed Fitzroy. The Second XI welcome back a pair of James(es) in the form of Bett and Horn, both of whom have been performing well across the grades for the Club. 

This week, look out for Harrison Emms. Channelling his inner-Matthew Hayden, Emms, complete with purple Gray-Nicolls Ultimate 1000 and his bouncer-repellent shampoo will feel right at home in the middle of the Uni Main against a red-ball. The opening batsman could go big this weekend and set up a dominant finish to the year. 

TEAM:

THIRD XI

After a disappointing loss against Prahran on the first week of their clash, the Third XI will be looking to return to their winning ways, against Fitzroy in a white ball clash this Saturday. A range of changes to the side this week sees the world’s nicest man, Sam Skinner return to captain the side, while Jonny Stone and Dan McNab will play their first matches at the level. 

A characteristically strong and tight-knit side, the twelve will become even closer as they contend with the smallest change rooms in the competition as they look to secure top spot heading into the finals. 

Mitch Domann is the player to watch in the Third XI this week; a cool customer, “Who Da man? You Da Man” will play a role both with the bat and his more than handy off-spinners. Having made his maiden Third XI half-century just a couple of weeks ago, he will be full of confidence that he can do it again against the white ball.

TEAM:

DURRANT

ROUGHSEDGE

DOMANN

BIENVENU

KENNEDY

STONE

MCNAB

SKINNER © +

WARREN

DOOLEY

STEVENSON

MOLDEN

FOURTH XI

After a difficult couple of weeks, the Fourth XI will be keen to claim some points and make ride a wave of improved form this week against Fitzroy. The return to the white-ball format for the Fourth grade also sees the return of Club coach, Antony Keely to the playing XI. Keely, who will introduce himself to all as the “insurance policy” of the batting order is keen for his “annual hundred” at Princes Park this weekend. 

Keely will be joined by a wealth of youth in the team, and it is an exciting prospect to have Tom Walker, Ollie Di Stefanis and Ned Bennett all providing strong AGSV representation in the XI. Walker will be sure to terrorise some poor Lion cubs with his speed and swing, while Alex Gall, sans appendix will be keen to build on what has been a solid first year of Premier cricket.

TEAM:

GALL

PATEL

EPSTEIN

KEELY

ANDERSON

MARTIN

DI STEFANIS

DITCHBURN ©

KOORAN

BENNETT

STOCKLEY

WALKER