By JARROD POTTER
PREMIER CRICKET – Round 13 (One day)
ONE last salvo between Dandenong (172) and Hawthorn-Monash University (8/175) would prove a fitting end to the clubs’ separate histories.
With the sides merging next season, as Monash University could not ensure the field-space for the cricket club next season onwards, this proved the final fixture in a lengthy cross-town rivalry as the Hawks won the toss and sent their soon-to-be teammates in to bat.
It would be a diabolical innings from Dandenong as only the stellar effort of Sri Lankan opening batsman Kaushal Silva (68) – playing for the Panthers throughout January – and Peter Sweeney (43 not out) gave the visitors something tangible to defend.
The top order buckled against the Hawks’ attack as Javed Khan (5/21) steamed in to rattle Tom Donnell’s (0) pegs before finding a feather-edge from Brett Forsyth (2).
James Pattinson (6) – on his Victorian Premier Cricket return after Big Bash duties with the Melbourne Renegades – scratched his way in, but Benny Howell (4/31) sent the Test international packing with the slower ball, catching Pattinson off-guard as he lobbed a simple catch to Ahilan Sivakumaran.
The Silva/Sweeney tandem notched 60 for the fifth wicket before Silva was trapped in front by Caleb Grant (1/33), leaving Sweeney to bat with the tail and force the score line along.
United with usual middle-order batsman Cameron Forsyth (18), batting at nine this week, Sweeney was able to push the tally to 172 and give the Panthers something defendable.
Déjà vu cricket ensued as the Hawks struggled to knock off the tally, despite at one stage cruising with 2/100 on the scoresheet. Spin would bedazzle the Hawks as Tom Donnell (2/22) and Dan Doran (2/28) worked through the middle order. A captain’s knock from Ryan Ninan (40 not out) carried on the good work of Matt Goodier (60) to nervously tap in the final few runs with nine balls remaining.
James Pattinson (0/30) charged through his 10 overs in a positive sign for Australia’s international selectors.
Dandenong (7/130) squeezed past Prahran (7/129) in a Twenty20 match at Shepley Oval on Sunday.The visitors could not get the ball off the square as Dandenong relished the conditions. Tight bowling from Kooweerup rising star Adam McMaster (2/19) in his Premier T20 debut and first class cricketer Luke Feldman (0/10) kept Prahran from expanding their shots and making the most of the small Shepley Oval boundaries.
Brett Forsyth (70no) put on a batting masterclass in reply to guide the Panthers to victory. With the order folding around him, Forsyth shook off his indifferent form on Saturday to strike a match-winning half-century with good help from Kaushal Silva (12) and McMaster (13no).
Dandenong will now battle Casey-South Melbourne in another cross-town derby, starting this weekend at Casey Fields.
