This side will take some beating.
The Pakenham Gazette WGCA District Team of the Year is an exciting side, but as usual, there will be players that could slide in seamlessly, that miss out.
But with a combined 3908 runs and 112 wickets, the selectors are confident with the final XII. The skipper will have no trouble in finding a player to step up and take wickets or make runs in this talented side…
1. Lucas Ligt (Devon Meadows – Captain)
Runs: 560 @ 43.08, 5 x 50, 1 x 100, HS: 100 not out. Wickets: 6 @ 18.50.
The most consistent player in the competition. The Devon Meadows opener is the first selected and the skipper of this impressive side. His century in the preliminary final wasn’t enough to secure a grand final berth, but it caps off a stellar individual season. With just five scores below 32 this summer, he will poll extremely well in the league medal.
2. Ranaweera Rajitha (Pakenham Upper Toomuc – wicket-keeper)
Runs: 625 @ 62.50, 2 x 50, 3 x 100, HS: 121 not out. Dismissals: 15 x catches, 3 x stumpings (18).
In the shorter format, every side needs to get off to a blitzing start, who better to have at the top than the Yabbies finest dasher. When set, he went on with it, converting three of the five times he passed 50. With scores of 121 not out, 45 and 100 not out against Lang Lang, Rajitha will feature in the league medal as heavily as he will in the Swamp Tigers off season nightmares.
3. Trent Delaney (Devon Meadows)
Runs: 444 @ 34.15, 5 x 50, HS: 70 not out.
Delaney was a key in the Panthers enchanting run home, with four of his five half-tons coming after the holiday break. Third in the league for runs heading into grand final week and at number three in this side. Will be a player that will flourish when two-day cricket returns.
4. Will Haines (Upper Beaconsfield)
Runs: 418 @ 32.15, 4 x 50, HS: 70 not out. Wickets: 10 @ 17.00.
Typically opens the batting for the Maroons, but such is the calibre of this side will slide in at number four. An extremely similar season to number three Delaney, with one less half-century, but the addition of 10 wickets. Bowled in each of the matches ahead of Christmas, but didn’t trundle as heavily after the break.
5. Taylor Joyce (Upper Beaconsfield)
Runs: 411 @ 51.38, 4 x 50, 1 x 100, HS: 121 not out. Wickets: 8 @ 24.00.
Joyce is as destructive as they come, leaving him the perfect player to come in at five to accelerate – and potentially finish – the innings. The talented sportsman led the competition for sixes and they didn’t just sneak over the rope either. Four red inks bolster that average, but with his highest score coming when he walked to the crease at 2/8, it’s a worthy figure.
6. Owen Thorne (Emerald)
Runs: 373 @ 31.08, 2 x 50, HS: 76 not out.
Despite usually batting inside the top three, the Emerald skipper will transform into this sides key number six. With just two scores below double-figures this year, the Bomber epitomises consistency, he also came away with five catches to solidify his spot in the side.
7. Nick Kyval (Pakenham Upper Toomuc)
Runs: 246 @ 18.92, HS: 45. Wickets: 18 @ 20.17, BB: 5/23 (hat-trick)
Normally bats at three for the Yabbies, but the Pakenham Upper Toomuc captain plonks in at seven in this side as one of the many all-rounder’s. Wicket-less in just three of his 12 outings for the Yabbies this summer to go with his steady contributions with the bat.
8. Ben Hussey (Devon Meadows)
Wickets: 21 @ 20.05, BB: 4/30. Runs 191 @ 21.22, HS: 40 not out.
Hussey has had a terrific all-round summer, with excellent performances with both bat and ball. Floated with the bat all year, spent time at eight, seven and even opened at one stage. He stuffed the stat sheet in all areas, even holding onto 10 catches this season.
9. Scott Pitcher (Upper Beaconsfield)
Wickets: 23 @ 17.04, BB: 5/20. Runs: 149 @ 18.63, HS: 35.
Every side needs at least one, a front line spinner – Pitcher is exactly that for this side. In addition to his reliability with the ball, he is composed with the bat in all conditions and a big energy lifter in the field with some of the more spoken about chat.
10. Jonty Bennie (Officer)
Wickets: 26 @ 13.85, BB: 4/19. Runs: 75 @ 25, HS: 30 not out.
Selectors found it hard to find a better bowler in the competition than Bennie. 26 victims, a strike rate of 19.88 and an average close to 10. Bowled all of his allotted overs in his last four weeks for a return of: 2/28, 4/19, 1/28 and 3/10.
11. Cooper Pursell (Officer)
Wickets: 23 @ 14.57, BB: 5/15. Runs: 86 @ 17.20, HS: 44 not out.
Steaming in with the new rock will be the uber-impressive Cooper Pursell. Not only has he captured 23 wickets with a neat average, he strikes every four overs and goes at less than four runs an over. His last three matches have seen him go at less than three an over and collect six wickets. He is the Gazette’s tip for man of the match this Saturday.
12. Ash Smith (Officer)
Runs: 330 @ 27.50, 3 x 50, HS: 65.
Says a lot about the evenness of Officer when its number four and leading run scorer is the 12th man in the Gazette’s Team of the Year. Smith has had an indifferent summer, if he doesn’t go for naught, he makes a score. Three ducks this summer, which lowers his average, but is a crucial player in this week’s big dance for the Ants.
