Dandenong all-rounder Dave Newman blasted an unbeaten century as the Panthers chased down Carlton’s total of 328 in Ballarat on Saturday.By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG has emerged from a Ballarat run feast to claim its biggest scalp of the Premier Cricket summer.
After being set a daunting target of 328 by second-placed Carlton, defending premier Dandenong survived some middle-over speed wobbles to haul in the runs with two overs to spare.
In a Country Week classic at Ballarat’s Eastern Oval, the Blues amassed a commanding total on the back of a virtuoso batting display from Evan Gulbis (159).
The opener’s explosive knock included 15 sixes and six fours, subjecting the Panthers bowlers to some serious torture.
Only Dandenong spinner Nathan Allen (1/34 from 10 overs) escaped Gulbis’ wrath, while left-arm quick James Butterfield claimed 2/47 from his eight overs.
Dandenong playing coach Warren Ayres later conceded his attack was almost helpless to the torching.
“I’m not sure we bowled great, but the way he hit them we couldn’t do much about it,” Ayres said.
Not to be overawed by the task, Ayres padded up with Brett Forsyth to begin the improbable chase with a 73-run first-wicket stand.
But despite half-centuries to Ayres (56) and Adam Bull (54), the Panthers fell to 6/215 when James Nanopoulos was bowled by the Blues’ Jeremy Brown.
That brought gloveman Ricky Damiano (76 not out) to the crease to join in-form all-rounder Dave Newman (103 not out).
It would prove to be a blissful union, with the pair slashing their way to a match-winning 119-run partnership.
Having scored 94 not out in his last visit to the crease, Newman is now in rare form after a scratchy start to the season with the bat.
Likewise, the Panthers have ascended to ninth on the ladder and could crack the top eight with a one-day win over St Kilda at Shepley Oval this week.
Dandenong will hail the return of exciting siblings Darren and James Pattinson – both from injury – and hard-hitting opener Kumar Sarna (flu), making Saturday’s XI as close to full-strength as the Panthers have been all summer.
