By Nick Creely
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
ROUND 13
A stinging loss has Dandenong holding onto its top-eight position by a thread.
The Panthers – welcoming in-form Fitzroy Doncaster to Shepley Oval on Saturday – were outclassed and as a result are now just two points clear in eighth position.
Tom Donnell’s side sent the Lions in to face the music, and it appeared an inspired decision with James Nanopoulos (2/50) and Adam McMaster (2/39) proving tough to handle with the new-ball to have the visitors quickly 3/35 and in dire need of some stability.
Jack Rudd was once again providing much-needed class, however, for the Lions, to dig himself in for the visitors.
The star opener has enjoyed a stunning individual season, and sits as the only player with three tons this season, and looked likely for yet another three-figure score, but a vital strike from Suraj Randiv (3/49) saw Rudd stumped for 56, before skittling Sam Elliott the next ball.
Skipper Ejaaz Alavi then played an absolute gem for his side, helping the Lions recover from 6/107, combining in a strong 91-run stand with Charles Simondson (38) to lift the visitors to 229.
Alavi fell just short of a century as he unselfishly looked to send a few shots over the boundary, run out for the final wicket after an outstanding 89 from 87 deliveries – his knock featured five fours and two sixes.
The Panthers were never really in the contest in a disappointing batting performance, bundled out for 136 inside 45 overs.
Tom Donnell (25) looked like getting going for the Panthers but ultimately made a start, while Comrey Edgeworth (40) and Pete Cassidy (36) came together at 7/58 and fought hard to no avail.
Seamers Sam Elliott (3/25) and Nick Fletcher (3/21) were a menace for the Panthers.
Down at Casey Fields, Casey-South Melbourne fell short in a thrilling contest against Footscray, with Hamish Winter-Irving putting together one of the performances of the season.
The Swans bowled superbly after the Dogs won the toss and elected to bat, with the returning Cam Brown – playing his first match since 2016/17 – snaring a wicket from his first ball with a cracking delivery that drew the edge.
The fun didn’t stop there, with Cal Dodson bowling a treat to remove Dan Sartori, while Brown struck again with Matt Underwood feathering one down the leg-side to the keeper.
Young gun Dylan Brasher was looking solid for the visitors, but a leading edge saw the opener caught at point, with Dodson’s golden early spell once again providing the rewards.
Finally returning after a long layoff from bowling, Nathan Lambden (4/19) bowled with tremendous aggression and pace, snaring the key scalp of Dean Russ caught-behind, but skipper Dylan Kight (37) and Hamish Winter-Irving (39) fought hard to put on a crucial 70 runs.
Lambden finally got the wickets flowing again, having Kight caught behind, before skittling the stumps of Winter-Irving in a searing delivery and troubling Siddhesh Dixit with some short pitch bowling before prizing out his wicket.
It was an incredibly impressive return for the highly-rated Swans spearhead.
The Dogs clawed to 140 from its 50 overs, with Lachie Sperling (2/26) banking some late wickets.
It was disaster from the start for the Swans, with gun young opener Ash Chandrasinghe caught and bowled first ball of the innings, and the home side’s top-order was dismantled off the back of some top-class fast bowling from Jordan Buckingham (3/15) and Winter-Irving (5/22).
At 5/12, the Swans were not only losing wickets at an alarming rate, but struggled to even get the scoreboard flowing.
Youngster Harrish Kannan and Lachie Sperling fought hard, soaking up plenty of pressure before Sperling in particular began to find some groove.
But the all-rounder fell for 35 as the game drew close, and some fight from Kannan on the other end had the Swans in the position to pinch an unlikely victory.
With the run-rate beginning to creep up, Winter-Irving returned for a menacing spell, prizing out Kannan for a well-made 47 as he looked to clear the field, before skittling the stumps of Ash Adihetty only moments later.
Buckingham – who set the tone with the first wicket – sealed the win by taking the final wicket with the Swans rolled for 121.
VICTORIAN SUB-DISTRICT – SOUTH/EAST
ROUND 12
Croydon was simply too good for Noble Park, winning by seven wickets at Croydon Park.
The Parkers batted first after being sent in, with all-rounder Janaka Liyanabadalge (62) leading the way for the visitors to set up a competitive 6/175.
Liyanabadalge crunched five fours and two sixes in his excellent hand.
An early wicket from Anthony Salomon (1/14) mattered little, with the home side running down the target with seven wickets and 10 balls to spare.
Endeavour Hills, meanwhile, were never really in the contest against Bayswater.
A fluent 40 from Shannon Rozario set up an underpar 123 from the Eagles, with Tim Emmett (4/25) providing a handful for the home side.
Quinton Hodgkinson (65 not out) ensured there would be no stumble, with the home side running down the target with the loss of just one wicket.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA – DISTRICT
ROUND 14
Pearcedale’s time in the MPCA’s District division is over, with the Panthers officially relegated after a final round loss.
The Panthers played Rosebud at Olympic Park, and were never in the contest.
After scoring 8/127, the Buds raced down the target with seven wickets to spare.
It means that the Panthers will now venture down once more, with the club to now enter the Sub-District Division.
