Club News: Merlo stars, Sandhu 7fa, Davies & Dixon tons & Sams back bowling

Club cricket offered plenty of BBL insights this weekend with starring displays from Renegades Harry Dixon and Gurinder Sandhu, along with Stars all-rounder Jono Merlo and Sixers youngster Joel Davies.

Young opening bat Dixon is unlikely to be in the Renegades’ Round 1 selection consideration but he scored an excellent century for St Kilda which will have them mulling his name.

Merlo also was in action for St Kilda, making a half-century and taking 3 wickets, as he firms for the potentially vacant spot to replace Glenn Maxwell early.

Renegades recruit Sandhu took a 7fa in Queensland, while Davies scored a century in NSW.

In big injury news, Daniel Sams was back bowling for Randwick Petersham in NSW too.

Victoria

Dixon was the star for St Kilda with 120 from 121 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes.

Merlo added plenty, scoring 62 from 59 with 2 sixes in there. He also took 3-13 from 5 overs.

Hurricanes spinner Peter Hatzoglou was back in action for Melbourne University, taking 1-35 from 10 and opening the batting, making 16 off 11.

Sixers fringe bowler Mitch Perry took 2-11 from 8 overs for Richmond.

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NSW

Sydney Thunder’s gun all-rounder Daniel Sams returned to bowling at club level, getting through 7 overs taking 1-12 for Randwick Petersham with 3 maidens.

Sams batted at 6 in a good run chase, posting an unbeaten 66* from 80 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Thunder spinner Tanveer Sangha responded to his NSW omission with 5-28 from 12 overs for Campbelltown against Blacktown. He also scored 25 and took 0-36 from 12 overs in the second innings.

Sixers all-rounder Joel Davies made 123* from 196 balls for Manly Warringah, with 8 fours and 3 sixes along the way. He batted at 4 and didn’t bowl.

Fellow Sixers all-rounder Hayden Kerr was bowling again after injury, taking 2-31 from 9 overs with 2 maidens for Sydney University. He also got a golden duck with the bat.

Thunder youngster Will Salzmann notably didn’t bowl but batted 3 and made 23 from 52 balls.

Queensland

Renegades recruit Gurinder Sandhu underlined his quality with a 7fa for South Brisbane in difficult conditions on Saturday.

Sandhu, who recently overcame a calf injury, took 7-26 from 10.4 overs with 2 maidens before making 26 from 42 balls batting at 5.

Heat re-signing Jack Wood batted at 5 for Ipswich in that game and top scored for his side with 48 from 39. Notably he didn’t bowl.

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WA

Not the most relevant weekend of Premier Cricket in WA with the second day of two-day games concluding, although Scorchers hopeful Matthew Spoors was dismissed for 23 from 32 for Scarborough. Andrew Tye blasted 60 off 58 for the Gulls.

Renegades middle-order bat Jonathon Wells took 3-30 from 7.2 for Perth after scoring 93 on the first day.

Stars spinner Hamish McKenzie backed up his first innings’ 5fa with 2-19 from 14 overs including 7 maidens for Subiaco Floreat.

D’Arcy Short made 25 from 33 balls for Willetton, while Mahli Beardman took 1-34 from 10 for Melville.

SA

Not a lot of note in SA Premier Cricket except Gades batsman Mackenzie Harvey took 4-13 from 6.5 overs for Sturt against Kensington.

It’s worth noting he dismissed batsman 7, 8, 9 and 10. He managed only 17 from 27 with the bat.

Earlier in the week, there was a round of T20s where Strikers spinner Lloyd Pope took 4-11 from 4 overs with a maiden after scoring 17* off 7.

Tasmania

Renegades fast bowler Tom Rogers was back bowling for North Hobart after getting through 8 overs last week. He managed 2-57 from 16.4 overs, after making 31 off 29 in the first day last weekend.

Heat bowler Will Prestwidge returned to bowling for SHSB after injury, taking 1-17 from 8 overs with 3 maidens. He scored 58 last weekend.

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