By Nick Creely
AROUND THE GROUNDS
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
ROUND 10
Ed Newman is a seriously exciting talent.
The Dandenong batsman has slowly but surely improved each year since he joined the club in 2015/16, and looms as a player who will make mountains of runs whether for the Panthers, or even higher up.
After linking with the Melbourne Stars this BBL season, to also spending time on Victoria’s rookie list, he’s not a talent going unnoticed.
And now, Newman has a Premier Cricket century next to his name.
It was a beauty too against a well-regarded Melbourne Uni bowling attack away from home to help guide the Panthers to its fourth win on the trot.
There’s still seven rounds of cricket left, but the fourth-placed Panthers seem to be finals-bound.
Sent in by Uni, champion Panthers Brett Forsyth and Tom Donnell rattled off 47 for the first wicket, before a double-strike from spinner John McLaughlan (2/51) saw the visitors slump to 2/55.
With Forsyth controlling proceedings, Newman came to the crease and immediately made his presence known.
Utilising a wide-range of strokes, the emerging star played some breathtaking cricket in his 119-run stand with Forsyth, sweating on anything that strayed from a perfect length against a bowling attack well known for its discipline.
Forsyth eventually fell for yet another half-century, a class 58 from 106 balls, and incredibly didn’t hit a boundary – an indicator of how hard he worked for his runs.
But Newman freed the arms and guided the Panthers to 4/230, smashing his way to an unbeaten 120, a knock that featured seven fours and five sixes.
It’s his power, shot placement and ability to move through the gears that make him such an exciting prospect, and why he almost made his BBL debut this season.
Dandenong skipper Tom Donnell was full of praise for his young star.
“It was great to see, we’ve seen glimpses over the years, but he’s never quite put it together,” he said.
“It was brilliant to watch – he’s got everything, he can clear the fence, he’s got timing, he hits the gaps.
He’s got that all-round game that in any situation he can help us – its been building for a while, he’s had mixed results over the years.
“Hopefully he’s putting it all together, we always thought it was a matter of time, and why we’ve shown such great faith in him.
“He’s a really good player.”
Despite a gritty 63 from Uni opener Jarrod Martignago, the Panthers were in full control with the ball, using its slow bowlers and quicks to its advantage in an impressive bowling effort.
And all without its great fast bowler James Nanopoulos.
The most impressive of the lot – wily medium pacer Pete Cassidy – snared 3/13 from his 10 overs, bowling two maidens and removing both openers with his impeccable lengths.
Reliable and consistent, Cassidy is once again enjoying a fruitful season for the Panthers and now has 14 wickets next to his name this season.
Uni could only muster up 166, with offie Suraj Randiv (3/37) also proving a nuisance for the opposition, Dasun Opanayaka took his chance with 2/36, while James Pattinson was once again snarling to take 1/27 from his 10 overs, removing in-form Uni skipper James McNeil for 18.
The Panthers face another stern challenge next weekend, with a home clash against Prahran at Shepley Oval.
Down at Casey Fields, Casey-South Melbourne gave it their all against a star-studded St Kilda line-up, but ultimately fell just short.
Welcoming back Test players Marcus Harris, Pete Handscomb, and featuring state representatives in Jon Merlo, Paddy Rowe, Todd Murphy and Henry Thornton, it was a challenge for the taking for the Swans coming off a barnstorming win against Essendon.
Sending the Saints in, dashing opener Michael De lacovo (25) was in ominous touch early, before left-arm quick Jackson Fry (2/14) drew the edge in which keeper Dev Pollock took a ripping catch.
Only three balls later, Fry snicked off Merlo for a blob, with the Saints suddenly falling to 2/28 in a stunning start.
Disappointingly for Fry, in his sixth over he injured his hamstring, forcing the Swans to shake up its bowling mix.
Despite the untimely loss, the experience of Tillakaratne Dilshan proved crucial.
The off-spinner forced an errant stroke from Peter Handscomb (9), with the right-hander chipping one back to the bowler, and in his next over ripping through the gate of current Test opener Marcus Harris, who had scratched his way to 4/58.
They were big moments from a big-time cricketer.
Clearly going against its plan, the Saints at 4/58 turned to skipper Adam Crosthwaite (30), who consolidated the innings with young star Paddy Rowe (53), ensuring the visitors could get the total back on track.
Some excellent late hitting from Josh Bartlett (24) and Todd Murphy (29) lifted the Saints to 8/199 from 47 overs, with three overs lost to a rain delay.
The chase couldn’t have got off to a worse start, with in-form opener Ash Chandrasinghe falling fifth ball, and when skipper Michael Wallace chased one outside off stump to be caught behind, the home side were in early trouble at 2/5.
Some brief spark from Dilshan (30) and keeper bat Dev Pollock (38) briefly got the home side back on track, but key breakthroughs – sparked by Todd Murphy (2/38) and Josh Bartlett (1/31) – saw a further stumble as the visitors closed in on victory.
But debutant Blair Clymo – walking out to the crease at 6/106 – saw the home side make one final surge.
Hitting the ball sweetly, and with terrific placement, the youngster crunched an unbeaten 31 to draw the game closer once more.
But left-arm quick Simon O’Brien (2/29) did enough to draw the false stroke, with Clymo looking to clear the field but skying one to Merlo.
The Swans were eventually bowled out for 165, with Fry unable to bat due to injury.
Michael Wallace’s group has a big chance to get back on the winners’ list with an away clash against Greenvale Kangaroos on Saturday.
VICTORIAN SUB-DISTRICT – SOUTH/EAST
ROUND 10
Elsternwick was a class above Endeavour Hills on Saturday, winning by six-wickets.
The Wicks restricted the Eagles to just 9/127 despite a fine knock from Rohan Pike (45).
The home side were in deep trouble at 4/31 with a cracking spell from Chris Pereira (3/23) having the Eagles in a strong position, but the class of skipper Cam Christiansen (59 not out) and keeper batsman Josh Gorman (47 not out) guided the team home with plenty of overs left.
Noble Park, meanwhile, went down to Caulfield at home.
The visitors were in dominant touch with the bat, racking up 5/191 despite some terrific bowling from club great Issy Perera (2/43).
The Parkers gave it their all in the chase, but were bowled out for 151.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA – DISTRICT
ROUND 11
Pearcedale was inflicted with yet another loss, with Crib Point comfortably defeating the Panthers.
The Panthers had a bat first, and amassed 145, with Nathan Prosser leading the way with a classy 33 for the visitors.
Despite a couple of early scalps, Magpie top-order batsman Matthew Blake spanked an unbeaten 61, belting six sixes in his whirlwind knock.
Skipper Waide Symes also chimed in with 37 not out for the Magpies.
