VPCDanHawM_72139_07.jpg: Brett Forsyth made his second century in as many games for Dandenong this summer, smashing 126 not out off Hawthorn-Monash University as Dandenong made 5/281. 72139 Picture: Jarrod Potter
By Jarrod Potter
THE golden blade of Brett Forsyth struck another century this weekend, as the Dandenong Panthers took two wins from their round two and three fixtures in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Forsyth and Tom Donnell struck 102 for the opening partnership, before the tonk continued with Darren Dempsey and Brent Fairbanks. Forsyth finished on 126 not out with twelve fours and two sixes.
The Panthers won by 47 runs on Duckworth-Lewis method; Hawthorn-Monash University were 3/91 off 28 overs, with Paul Boraston claiming two wickets, in reply to the massive 5/281 set for them by Dandenong when the weather intervened.
Sunday’s match against St Kilda saw the Panthers scrape home by a run with three balls remaining and the last pair at the crease. Boraston took 3/17 to restrict St Kilda to 8/185 from the allotted overs.
Chasing 186 for victory, the Panthers were in a canter at 1/138 with Forsyth (47) and Matt Machan (55) ticking the scoreboard over before Dandenong collapsed to 6/157, with Fairbanks and Boraston at the crease.
Boraston hit two fours in a crucial 25-run stand before Fairbanks and Boraston were dismissed by Forbes on the same score.
James Willcock and Justin Butterfield cobbled together the last four runs, which were scored with a single, two leg byes and a wide to take the victory.
“Butters thought he hit them anyway (the leg byes),” Dandenong captain Dempsey said. “We won on a wide, which is a little harsh on St Kilda, but it is what it is.
“We probably let it get closer than it should.”
Dempsey said the half-century of Machan was impressive in only his second Panthers game.
“Matt’s just signed a rookie contract for West Sussex and is only over here for the summer,” Dempsey said. “Looks like he’s going to be a good player.
“Plays with intent and made his 55 off only about 65 balls and batted really sensibly to take the game up to St Kilda.”
With the win, Dandenong sit in third and face second-placed Prahran at Shepley Oval on Saturday – the side Forsyth left over the summer to return back to Dandenong.
“They (Prahran) will probably have a bit to say to him (Forsyth) since he’s already doubled his tally from last year,” Dempsey said. “People change clubs regularly these days, so it’s not uncommon to see a bloke who plays their old team, though.”
“We have (Peter) Siddle back and they have (David) Hussey and (Chris) Rogers, so it should be a really good game of cricket.”
