Above: Panthers opener Brett Forsyth raises the willow for his 50. He would raise it again on his way to 107 in a great return to Dandenong.
By Jarrod Potter
BRETT Forsyth capped off his return to Dandenong by blasting 107 off 142 balls to guide the Panthers to a two-run win over the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC).
Forsyth, who had a horror last season with Prahran – with only 163 runs total at a 10.87 average – shook off any questions on his ability with his century. Forsyth struck eight fours and a six in the innings and was only dislodged from the crease when he upped the tempo in the last over, hitting the second last ball of the innings straight to Matt Brown off the bowling of Daniel Worrall.
The Panthers built their total steadily, after the first over duck of Tom Donnell and losing the captain Darren Dempsey on 21. Forsyth found support in Michael Sweeney (30) and Brett Fairbanks (58), building partnerships of 64 and 121 respectively with the middle-order batsmen as Dandenong finished their allotted overs on 6/246.
The MCC suffered first over jitters the same as Dandenong, with Sebastian Gotch falling for a duck off the bowling of Justin Butterfield.
They rebuilt through Andrew Kent anchoring the innings with 90, with help from Max Tomkinson (28).
When Kent departed at 7/200, Brown upped the run rate, hitting 28 off 18 with three fours and a six, and with seven required off the last over, the MCC looked likely to win.
Brown went the tonk and miscued a shot to Forsyth off the bowling of Fairbanks.
His departure at 9/239 left the tailenders, but they hit the singles and missed the last two balls, leaving the MCC two runs in arrears of the Panthers.
The pick of the Dandenong bowlers was James Wilcock with 3/56 from his 10 overs with Fairbanks and Nanopoulos picking up two wickets each.
Dandenong captain Dempsey said it was great to have Forsyth’s return capped off with a century and the win.
“I don’t think he could’ve asked for a better start,” Dempsey said.
“This would be the dream result, coming back to Dandenong and getting the century after the season he had last year.”
“Fairbanks had a pretty good all round game,” Dempsey said. “His 50 changed the momentum of the game and allowed Brett to play the second-fiddle role.
“Not far behind would’ve been Paul Boraston. He got 1/24 off his 10 in a game that went at five an over is a great effort.”
The last over was tense for Dempsey as he thought MCC had the match by the horns before capitulating with only a couple needed off the last two deliveries.
“They needed seven runs off the last over and with two wickets in hand, and you’d usually back them in,” Dempsey said.
“We took a wicket off the first ball, and they didn’t make connection with the last two balls but failed to score and that’s what got us the two-run win.
“Was a little close for comfort.”
The Panthers have a double-header this weekend, against Hawthorn-Monash University at Shepley Oval on Saturday and St Kilda at Junction Oval on Sunday.
“On paper and on form we should beat Hawthorn, that’s probably no secret,” Dempsey said. “But every team is capable on their day; we should go in confident. St Kilda on Sunday is tough whenever you play.”
