By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET – 1st Round 9 (One day)
WELCOMED back in more ways than one, Dandenong (112) all-rounder James Pattinson made his bowling return in the Panthers’ five-wicket Twenty20 loss to Monash Tigers (5/133).
Pattinson was a sight for sore eyes as he strode to the bowling crease, after spending the start of the week in Macksville with other Australian and state cricketers to farewell Phillip Hughes.
It was the first time Pattinson had wound up and unleashed a barrage of deliveries since March and the quick didn’t fail to make his mark, snaring a wicket from his four overs and generally impressing the crowd that gathered to see the swarm of state and national-level cricketers.
Dandenong started with a bang off Brett Forsyth’s (41) blade as the opener started the Dandenong initiative at Central Reserve. The Panthers struggled to find a match-winning partnership as Forsyth longed for someone to survive at the other end. Quick wickets first up left Dandenong in all sorts at 3/15 and the innings never recovered from there as Forsyth’s heroics finally came to an end at 5/79 after hitting out against Melbourne Renegades’ spinner Aaron O’Brien (3/30).
Late order flourishes were few and far between as the visitors failed to find the boundary and the Panthers barely crept past triple figures after their 19 overs.
While Monash had four Victorian representatives at the top of the order – Will Sheridan (6), Cameron White (24), Daniel Christian (19) and O’Brien (0) – shots were hammered impressively past Dandenong’s attack by Andrew Chalkley (42 not out), who finished the job for the Tigers as Dandenong’s Twenty20 season opener came to an abrupt end.
James Wilcock (2/13) and James Nanopoulos (2/16) were the best of the Panthers’ attack.
Dandenong hosted Melbourne Uni on Sunday afternoon for the second Twenty20 of the weekend and will travel to Fitzroy-Doncaster for their third consecutive short form match on Saturday.
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE (6/139) squandered its best chance yet of points after skittling Ringwood (6/148cc) in their Twenty20 clash at Casey Fields. Chris Hall (3/24) opened the bowling and struck early alongside Simon Black (2/37). A fiery opening stand between Josh Holden (50) and Dan Watson (43) put the Swans in a great position early at 0/100, but the wheels fell off after the duo were dismissed as Casey spun its way to nine short at 6/139.
Casey hosts Essendon on Saturday afternoon in Round-11 Twenty20 action.
