By JARROD POTTER
PREMIER CRICKET – Round 13 and 14 (One day and Twenty20)
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 team-mates in to bat.
It would be a diabolical innings from Dandenong as only 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).
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 alongside usual middle-order batsman Cameron Forsyth (18), batting at nine this week, Sweeney was able to push the tally to 172.
Deja 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 HMU’s 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.
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 master-class 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 (13 not out).
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE (8/166) was gallant in defeat against Camberwell (7/168), but made amends with a Twenty20 triumph on Sunday.
With the top order succumbing simply – falling to 4/12 at one stage – the revival was spurred on by Tasmanian Tigers/Melbourne Stars all-rounder Clive Rose (46). Rose and Shane Maggs (42) pushed the run rate along and kept the Magpies on the back foot.
Captain Chris Hall (31) also starred as he guided the tally to 166 by innings’ end.
Despite taking wickets in clumps – as Hall (3/19) and Cam Brown (2/22) struck in succession – Camberwell was able to eke out the win via Justin Lampard (65).
Twenty20 proved just as lucrative for the Swans on Sunday as Casey-South Melbourne (3/149) held on against Geelong (123). Dan Watson’s power-packed 51 – off 39 balls – pushed advantage towards the visitors as Geelong could not run through the order. Lachie Sperling (31 not out) and Clive Rose (29 not out) finished the innings in style to give Casey a chance at an unbeaten weekend.
Seeing off the Geelong top-order – taking wickets of Hayden Butterworth (30) and Josh McDonald (30) – Rose (4/12) made his mark on the middle order and spun the Swans towards a comfortable 26-run win. Simon Black (3/14) and Watson (2/32) also helped push past Geelong in the sensational triumph.
Dandenong will now battle Casey-South Melbourne in another cross-town derby, starting this weekend at Casey Fields.
