Schlitter shines with swashbuckling century

By Paul Pickering
PRAHRAN captain Neil Schlitter condemned Dandenong to an 0-4 start to the Premier Cricket season on Saturday, blasting a spectacular century as the Two Blues cruised to a six-wicket victory at Shepley Oval. The opener’s unbeaten innings of 124 from 100 balls included seven fours and four sixes, making a mockery of Dandenong’s modest total of 191.
Schlitter’s brash knock was in stark contrast to the uncertainty of the Panthers batsmen, who limped to their third sub-200 score in four matches. Brett Forsyth was the only Dandenong batsman who managed to capitalise on a start, and his gritty innings of 61 took 124 balls.
The Panthers slumped to 8/157 when Prahran’s James Wild (5/55) made Ricky Damiano his fifth scalp, but a lusty cameo from tail-ender Brent Fairbanks (34 not out) restored some respectability to the total. In reply, the Two Blues took just 36 overs to secure the win and a bonus point.
Returning paceman Darren Pattinson was wicketless in his eight overs, while part-timer Darren Dempsey claimed 3/35 in his first spell for the season. Dandenong coach Warren Ayres was not surprised by Schlitter’s match-winning knock.
“He’s as good a Twenty20 batsman as there is in the state,” Ayres declared.
“He does that sort of thing a few times a year, and he’s the kind of player you’ve got to get out or the other side wins.”
Ayres lamented his team’s conservative mindset, urging his charges to “loosen up a bit” despite the disappointing start to the season.
“They’ve just got to start enjoying their cricket, taking a few more risks and playing one-day cricket with more flair,” he said.
Dandenong will play sixth-placed Essendon (2-2) at Windy Hill this Saturday, before switching to the two-day format for eight weeks.