By Tyler Lewis
James Nanopoulos has put on a show to lead Frankston-Peninsula to its fifth win of the year.
The Heat skipper had it all his way, from the moment he stepped out of his car at Walter Galt Reserve.
He firstly won the toss and opted to send Kingston Hawthorn in.
Nanopoulos then bowled his side to an excellent position, capturing 4/20 from his 10 overs.
The right-arm wobbler threatened to pull one of his annual eight or nine-fors when he had two wickets for very little damage, but the Hawks managed to see him out.
The Heat bowled the Hawks out for 159 in the 45th over, with Brodie Symons (2/35 off eight), Liam Cox (2/27 off eight) and Jack Conroy (1/41 off 10) being the other wicket takers.
The visitors got off to a steady start once again through openers Vish Bansal (17 from 18) and Nick Taranto (18 from 30), but with three quick wickets shifting the Heat from 0/32 to 3/40, they needed someone to stand up.
It was Nanopoulos again, alongside Symons, who delivered the Heat another victory.
Nanopoulos brought energy to the crease, showing immense intent to score in the short, but difficult, run chase.
The Heat skipper whacked 43 from 64 balls with five boundaries, leaving the crease at 4/115, after entering at the aforementioned 3/40.
Frankston-Peninsula had a little shake after the departure of its skipper, with Jai Elcock (7) – the player who replaced Nanopoulos – following him swiftly back to the pavilion.
But Symons showed his growing maturity; slowly, but steadily finishing the job for the Heat, with an unbeaten score of 51.
His knock was somewhat uncharacteristic, as he hit just two fours and two sixes – with his second four coming off the final ball of the innings when the Heat required just one and the field was brought in.
The dismissal of Nanopoulos in the 31st over unquestionably cost the Heat the bonus point – therefore 12th position ahead of Prahran – but the Frankston-Peninsula outfit will be pleased it is getting growing output out of its key players.
In the last two rounds of the Victorian Premier Cricket season, Frankston-Peninsula will host Casey-South Melbourne, before travelling down the highway to Geelong to take on the Cats.
