By Nick Creely
VIC PREMIER – ROUND 16 (DAY 1)
A depleted and inexperienced bowling attack has shown glimpses of a bright future, with Dandenong dismissing the lowly Frankston Peninsula for 230 on day one at Shepley Oval.
With James Pattinson and Justin Butterfield not taking the field, the Panthers were without two of their key lynchpins, but simply had to find a way to keep their top-four spot in check.
It is expected Pattinson will be available to bat next week for the Panthers, with youngster Matt Weitering to come out of the side.
With so much riding on the Panthers putting away a bottom-four side, the loss of the two stars put a dent on Tom Donnell’s plans on day one – the side in general is one of the most inexperienced Dandenong has put on the park this season, with just six players playing the entire season in the top-grade.
Enter a new-look bowling attack featuring Adam McMaster (3/65), a frighteningly quick prospect, and second-gamers Patrick Turner (3/28) and Weitering (2/37), while the evergreen James Nanopoulos (2/30) bowled over 20 overs.
Turner, in particular, has been highly impressive since getting his chance last round, with Donnell describing him as an “exciting prospect”.
The last-placed Heat took full advantage early, with Matt Gapes (54), Liam Tonkin (30) and skipper Luke Walker (74) all piling on the runs before McMaster got the Panthers going with the wickets of Gapes and Walker – the Heat then fell from 2/125 to all-out for 230, an almost trademark of their batting this season, leaving them perhaps 100 runs short of par on a stellar Shepley Oval deck.
But pressure can do funny things, and with a bowling attack featuring Ben Ashkenazi, Jake Wood and Jackson Mockett, the Panthers must not take things for granted next week.
Meanwhile, Casey-South Melbourne is in an utterly dominant position, carving up Kingston Hawthorn at their fortress at Casey Fields.
Winning the toss and batting, Luke Manders (66), Michael Wallace (95) and skipper Lachlan Sperling (80) flayed the ball to all parts, racking up 8/356 by stumps.
Nathan Lambden (23 not out), Brendan Rose (26) and Dylan Hadfield (23) all chimed in with solid knocks. Hawks champion James Miller (2/47) was the pick of the bowlers.
