IT WAS a big weekend for Melbourne in Premier Cricket, with two big wins in two matches. It took just 35 overs to score a third straight win on Saturday, losing just three wickets chasing down Northcote’s target of 167.
And it was just as easy on Sunday, when the demons beat Hawthorn-Monash University by 131 runs.
Northcote skipper Marcus Stoinis won the toss at the Albert Ground against Northcote and chose to bat, but Ben Peake went early in the innings and Steven Taylor followed at 2/39.
Stoinis and Western Australian import Tim Monteleone then added 39, the highest stand of the innings.
But when Monteleone was caught for 46 Northcote slid to 4/116. Solid contributions from Aidan March (32), Stoinis (22) and some rearguard hitting from Nathan Hrovatin (22) pushed the score to 7/166, hardly an imposing total for an in-form Melbourne side.
Demons openers Andrew Kent (25) and Andrew McDonald (37) added 51 for the first wicket.
Evergreen Brad Hodge came in next and not out on 67, as 19 from both Alex Keath and Brenton McDonald saw Melbourne reach 3/170 with 15 overs to spare.
Brenton McDonald was the star with the bat against Hawthorn, making 49 in a total of 8/236. The Hawks made just 105
ST KILDA scored a gigantic victory over Casey-South Melbourne on Saturday, as the Swans were made to rue the decision to bowl first after winning the toss.
Casey struck relatively early with the wicket of Rob Quiney (23) to have St Kilda 1/37 but a mammoth 172-run partnership between Peter Handscomb (111) and Thomas Moffat (74) helped take Saints to 4/255.
Andrew Perrin was the pick of the Swans’ bowlers with 3/59 from 10 overs, while Damien Wright’s economical 1/22 off eight saved Casey from further pain.
In response Casey-South Melbourne was bowled out for 171, with Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade top-scoring with 71.