More runs and more high praise for former Bendigo District Cricket Association player James Seymour.
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Seymour blasted a brilliant 110 not out for a Victorian Premier Cricket all-star team against a Victorian squad team in an exhibition match at the Junction Oval on Sunday.
Seymour faced 97 balls, hit seven fours and five sixes to lead his side to a stunning seven-wicket win after chasing down 299.
The Victorian Shield squad attacked included ex-BDCA trio Xavier Crone (0-64), Liam Bowe (1-53) and Todd Murphy (1-56) and Maryborough's Cam McClure (1-25).
The century came 24 hours after he made 59 for Essendon in the Bombers' loss to Carlton in Premier Cricket. That score took his season tally to 390 runs at an average of 130.
Former first-class player Adam Crosthwaite, who is now captain of Premier Cricket club St Kilda, said Seymour deserved a chance at a higher level.
"There's a difference in the way the ball comes off the bat of a first-class player and a club player, and Seymour hits the ball as cleanly as anyone going around in state cricket,'' Crosthwaite told Leader newspapers.
"If you put him into a Shield game, he'd definitely hold his own. He's a very good player, a special talent. In fact he's better than a lot of Shield cricketers I've seen. The Victorian coach (Chris Rogers) had to make a lot of runs to force his way in, so at least he knows what it takes to do what this kid is doing.''
Seymour won the Ryder Medal for the best player in Premier Cricket last season and there's been a chorus of calls from those inside Premier Cricket for him to receive a chance in the Big Bash League and/or with the state squad.
While Seymour had the better of Crone on Sunday, the former Strathfieldsaye paceman was the hero with the ball for Carlton against Essendon on Saturday.
Crone took season-best figures of 5-30 as the undefeated Blues dismissed the Bombers for 165 to win by 115 runs.
Crone is enjoying a fine season with the Blues. He's taken 12 wickets at an average of 16.1 and economy rate of 22.
Former White Hills keeper-batsman Brayden Stepien didn't play for Carlton on Saturday or in Sunday's exhibition match because he's expected to be included in the Melbourne Renegades BBL squad this week.
Stepien played two BBL games last summer with the Renegades.
Stepien has scored 363 runs at an average of 121 in four Premier Cricket games for Carlton this summer.
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