Far left: Dandenong playing coach Warren Ayres watches another of his cut shots streak towards the fence during his historic century on Saturday.By Paul Pickering
A VINTAGE ton from playing coach Warren Ayres wrenched Dandenong from within the grip of disaster in its Premier Cricket clash with Fitzroy-Doncaster on Saturday.
Having slumped to 7/98 on the first morning at Schramms Reserve, the Panthers mounted a memorable fightback to bank 369 runs on the first day.
With his 41st career century, Ayres (149) became the first player in the history of Premier/District cricket to amass 15,000 runs.
The veteran technician strode to the wicket with the weight of the Panthers’ season on his shoulders, only to leave 212 runs later with his team in a commanding position.
When asked if he rated the crucial innings among his best, the alpha Panther would only reluctantly agree that it was “a pretty good one”.
“When I came in at 7/98 I thought I’d better try and do something,” he said.
“I hadn’t made (a century) for two years, and hadn’t thought about making one, really.
“I’ve just tried to help the other guys. I want them to do better than I do.”
On Saturday, Brett Fairbanks clearly flourished under Ayres’ steadying influence, with the Panthers number nine contributing 82 to a club record eighth-wicket partnership of 202.
“He’s a very good cricketer and he makes vital runs often,” Ayres said of his willing understudy.
“At first I thought I’d have to go after them, but I soon realised he probably wasn’t going to get out.”
When Fairbanks eventually departed, Paul Boraston (47) proved to be a more than handy replacement, bludgeoning the Lions’ weary attack for six fours and three sixes to bolster an already formidable total.
Having seemingly let a rare victory slip through their fingers, the Lions could ill afford to lose a wicket in an awkward twilight spell of three overs before stumps.
So when Dave Newman trapped reliable opener Peter Dickson in front for a duck, the Panthers’ resurgence was complete.
Dandenong will now be favoured to secure first-innings points this Saturday, with Bushranger seamer Peter Siddle – who injured his shoulder in a training mishap last month – set to enhance the Panthers’ bowling armoury.
Siddle’s return would be welcome news for Ayres, after his young side has been depleted by injury this summer.
Kumar Sarna missed Saturday’s play with a finger complaint, and will join opening partner Brett Forsyth in Tasmania for the under 19 national championships next week.
Meanwhile, gifted brothers Darren and James Pattinson are expected to return from injury in the new year.
With the prospect of a near full-strength squad next year, Dandenong will be looking to repeat the late-season run that ended in a historic first premiership last summer.
A six-point result this Saturday would see the Panthers well-poised to pounce from the middle of the Premier pack.
