Dandenong’s Nathan Allen slides in vain as Hawthorn-Monash Uni gloveman Ben Cookson celebrates the umpire’s verdict at Shepley Oval on Saturday.By Paul Pickering
A MASTERFUL spell from seamer Dave Newman appears to have pried Dandenong from the jaws of defeat in its Victorian Premier Cricket two-day match at Shepley Oval.
The Panthers set Hawthorn-Monash Uni a humble first innings target of 200 on Saturday, squandering a strong start to be dismissed before tea on the first day.
But the decision to throw Newman the new ball ahead of burly paceman Brent Fairbanks proved to be a masterstroke for Dandenong, as the all-rounder wreaked havoc on the Hawks’ top-order.
Newman finished with the astonishing figures of 4/8 from 13 overs – including nine maidens.
The inspired spell reduced the Hawks to 4/10 before Dale Tormey and Steven Spoljaric combined to revive their side with a 50-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Paul Boraston (1/40) took the brunt of the punishment, while Fairbanks, Nathan Allen and Justin Butterfield were all economical.
Predictably, it was Newman who effected the vital breakthrough, trapping Spoljaric in front for 29 to have the Hawks struggling at 5/85 at stumps.
Earlier, teenaged opening duo Kumar Sarna and Brett Forsyth got the Panthers off to a promising start, combining for 68 before Forsyth (23) gave his wicket up to Hawks debutant Michael Rengarajah (3/45).
Sarna (49) smashed 10 boundaries before he suffered a similar fate, edging a Rengarajah delivery through to Hawthorn-Monash Uni keeper Ben Cookson to deny himself a half-century.
A further three wickets fell before Newman (28) and Panthers gloveman Ricky Damiano (49) joined forces at 5/79 to steady the home team.
Like Sarna, Damiano – who hit nine boundaries of his own – went once to many, advancing to leg-spinner Matthew Hewat in search of his minor milestone only to be stumped by Cookson.
Despite an entertaining cameo from Fairbanks (32 not out), the Panthers could only manage to scramble to 199 before Hewat (3/44) claimed the final wicket of Butterfield.
Dandenong’s bowlers will be searching for early wickets to expose the Hawks’ tail upon resumption this Saturday.
