By Glen Atwell
DANDENONG thrashed a hapless Richmond in a one-day Premier League match at Punt Road Oval on Saturday.
Chasing 178, the Panthers cruised to 179 with the loss of only three wickets.
After Warren Ayres won yet another coin toss and sent Richmond in to wield the willow, the Dandenong pace attack quickly disposed of the Tigers’ top order.
Peter Siddle was at his brilliant best, snaring 2/21 from 10 overs.
Siddle’s two victims were Richmond’s opening batsmen, Glenn Maxwell and Aiden Blizzard.
Blizzard was removed without troubling the scorers and was soon joined in the batting shed by Maxwell, who managed to add seven runs before departing.
Both batsmen were caught behind by Dandenong wicketkeeper Ricky Damiano.
David Newman also chimed in with 2/37 as the Panthers removed all the Richmond batsmen after 46 overs.
Matthew Chasemore (10) and Kumar Sarna (28) had the scoreboard ticking over early, Tom Donnell added 42 and Dandenong was well on its way to victory.
Warren Ayres’ 50 not-out was the match-winning innings as the Panthers powered toward a convincing seven-wicket win.
This Saturday, normal two-day competition resumes and Dandenong hosts Hawthorn-Monash University at Shepley Oval.
Dandenong occupies third position on the Premier Cricket ladder and this game looms as a must-win if the Panthers are to challenge Carlton and Essendon for first and second spot.
With Ayres firing on all cylinders with the bat and Siddle enjoying success with the ball, Dandenong is hitting top gear at the right time of the season.
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