By Nick Creely
Dandenong are yet to have a Ryder Medal draped around the neck of one of its players.
While there have been some serious cricketers grace the field this Victorian Premier Cricket season, champion Panther Brett Forsyth could well be the favourite to take out this year’s award, such has been the dominance of the class opener with a stunning thirst for runs. It would be a historic occasion for the club and fitting for a player that has bled for the club since playing his first game for the Panthers nearly 16 years ago.
Forsyth’s 168 on Saturday, which is now his highest score during his glittering career at Shepley and second century in a row, was a case of a player that simply knows how to build an innings from nothing, accelerate at the exact right moment, and rein in his aggression when the moment demanded it.
It was batting for the purists, and even more of an indication that he has what it takes if the Victorian selectors decide to have a look. Australian cricket demands batsmen with the temperament of Forsyth.
Facing a big ask heading into day two, the Panthers got off to the best start possible in their chase of 351 against Footscray, with Forsyth and skipper Tom Donnell (35) notching up 69 for the first wicket, in yet another strong stand by the champion openers.
Donnell’s departure didn’t halt the home side’s momentum, with Cam Forsyth (31) also batting well to spend some quality time at the crease with his brother, and the pair swiftly added a further 56 runs to the score, with the Dogs struggling to find the right lines on a golden batting track.
But after crossing yet another half-century, Forsyth seemed primed to build on that, crunching several to the boundary in ominous fashion in what appeared to be a switching of gears.
Joining the star at 3/195, the returning James Pattinson (68 off 67) showed his many tricks with the bat, rattling off boundaries to all corners of Shepley in what proved to be the match-winning stand. While Pattinson carved them, Forsyth continued to churn his runs, knowing all too well his presence at the end of the day would seal the points for his side, and bring them one step closer to being given the chance to defend their premiership.
Despite Pattinson fall only 30 runs before victory, a late cameo to James Nanopoulos (21 off 13) helped get the job done, with Forsyth deservingly striking the winning runs with five wickets and just 11 balls to spare.
Forsyth’s golden summer – with still a round to play and finals – sees him now cross to 1171 runs at a remarkable average of 58.6, with 942 at 85.6 coming in the home-and-away season.
The fifth-placed Dandenong travel to Walt Galt Reserve to take on Kingston Hawthorn on Saturday, in an important tune-up before finals.
In other results across the grades, the Panthers (8/294) drew with the Dogs (9/253) at Mervyn Hughes Oval in the seconds, a remarkable 184 to Lachlan MacCorquodale guided Dandy (4/344) to a win over Footscray in the thirds, while the fourths also snared a win, with emerging opener Cody Miller striking 95.
