Tom Donnell cuts hard in his 60 as the Panthers took the win over the Heat. 72808Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Jarrod Potter
DARREN Dempsey found sweet redemption with the bat on Saturday, hitting 65 off 50 balls to cast aside any doubts of his batting this season.
After labelling his performance against Prahran a contributing factor to the Panthers’ loss, Dempsey clubbed 65, with six fours and three sixes, to see Dandenong post 8/255 from their allotted 50 overs.
The score was set up by the 87-run partnership between Tom Donnell (60) and Matt Machan (58), before Dempsey went about smashing a quick-fire half-century.
That would be the highpoint of the Panthers’ batting innings, with the top-order’s dismissal, Dandenong finished at 8/255.
Heat bowler Matt Chasemore continued his scintillating season, picking up his second five-wicket haul for the year with 5/62 from his 10 overs.
Half centuries to Ben Clements (74) and Ben Hillard (50) and another all-rounder’s effort from Matt Chasemore (45) had the Heat poised to chase the total, before James Willcock, back in the first XI to replace Peter Siddle, struck with 4/44.
Wilcock’s wickets helped halt Frankston-Peninsula’s progress, and when Clements was run out by Brent Fairbanks with the score at 7/224, the Heat didn’t have enough options left to chase the remaining difference down. The Heat batted out their overs to finish 12 runs in arrears of the Panthers.
“Very pleasing,” Dempsey said about his half-century. “I think we needed it.
“We ended up with just enough runs.
“Donnell batted well, Matty (Machan) was a little slower, but kept the partnership going and left us with wickets in hand to make the runs.
“As far as our batting went, it was probably our best effort as a team.
The Dandenong bowling was lacklustre according to Dempsey, but thought Fairbanks (1/37 off 10) was the pick of the bowlers.
“From an overall aspect, our bowling was probably not as good as we like it to be generally, but it was good enough to get us the win.”
Going into the two-dayers, Dandenong will face Northcote at home without Dempsey, who will be sidelined for a match with a hamstring injury.
