By JARROD POTTER
Victorian Premier Cricket – Round 18 (week two)
THE never say die Dandenong (297) cut down Northcote (120 and 151) in an outright victory to keep its slender finals hopes alive.
From 4/82 last weekend at stumps, Northcote capitulated spectacularly as Justin Butterfield (3/30), Dan Doran (2/22), James Nanopoulos (2/23) and James Wilcock (2/31) ran through the batting as if it was a net session.
The Northcote resistance barely lasted 40 overs and left the home side having to bat again to avoid outright embarrassment.
Marcus Stoinis, returning to Victorian duty, was not available to help the top order hold off Wilcock (3/30) and Nanopoulos (4/41) as it collapsed for a meagre 151. Doran (2/19) took the key wicket of Ben Peake (40) to end all hopes of Northcote batting out for a first innings loss alone.
Dandenong hosts Camberwell Magpies at Shepley Oval in the final match of the Victorian Premier Cricket home and away season. The winner of Dandenong versus Camberwell will need results to fall its way with Fitzroy-Doncaster losing to Melbourne and Prahran failing against Northcote.
Dandenong will also need to drastically improve its percentage as well to leapfrog Prahran into the final top-eight spot.
