Above: Dandenong Cricket Club is fasttracking its young stars with 16yearolds Brett Forsyth and Kumar Sarna both playing in the senior side on the weekend.By Glen Atwell
DANDENONG Cricket Club scored an impressive Premier Cricket firsts win against a star-studded Prahran lineup that included three state players on Saturday.
David Hussey, Jonathan Moss and Jason Arnberger took the field for Prahran, with Hussey scoring 48 to save Prahran from complete embarrassment as they were all out 25 runs short of Dandenong’s 166.
Moss scored 19 and had Dandenong opening batsman Matthew Chasemore stranded in front of his stumps for a duck.
Arnberger was bowled by a cracking delivery from Peter Siddle after adding just three runs to his side’s total.
Siddle destroyed the Prahran batting, taking 4/13 off 10 overs, including two maidens.
At 2/17, Dandenong looked in trouble when 16-year-old Kumar Sarna took control and added 40 runs before being caught off a Bryce McGain delivery.
Coach Warren Ayres said Sarna was an exciting young player.
“He made 150 in the seconds last year and it was only his second firsts game on Saturday. In his debut last year against Melbourne he made 43.
“Sarna is definitely one of the better junior cricketers going around,” Ayres said.
But it was Timothy Hooper who dug in for Dandenong, compiling 52 from 88 deliveries in what would prove to be a matchwinning innings.
The side also boasted a second 16-year old player in Brett Forsyth who made a solid 15 and signalled that Dandenong’s charge towards success this season will be spearheaded by youth.
Dandenong will be looking for another win against Richmond at Shepley Oval in a one-day match on Saturday.
Ayres said it was too early in the season to predict form, but said it was nice to get the season off to a good start.
“If we could win three from four, that would be great,” he said.
