Ian Holland grabs hat-trick in crucial Ringwood victory

The Ringwood star nabbed three in three to add to his long list of achievements in Victorian Premier Cricket.

Having a ball: Ian Holland after taking his hat-trick for Ringwood.

Ian Holland has done it all in Victorian Premier Cricket.

Played in premierships. Won a Jack Ryder Medal. Won a John Scholes Medal. Won batting and bowling averages.

The ace all-rounder added to his long list of achievements on Saturday when he plucked a hat-trick in Ringwood’s crucial Round 6 victory over Dandenong at Shepley Oval.

The three-from-three came in the seventh over of the match.

Right-arm paceman Holland had Dandenong captain Tom Donnell caught behind, skittled No 3 Aaron Fernando first ball and completed his hat-trick when he had Panther Comrey Edgeworth LBW.

The Panthers had gone back to their great opening partnership of Donnell and Brett Forsyth, and they’d put on 31 before the skipper snicked one.

Fernando and Edgeworth were unable to get bat on Holland’s next two balls.

When Forsyth was out for 20 the hosts were 4-37.

Suraj Randiv with Dandenong first-gamer Jarryd Wills.

That they got to 137 was down to James Nanopoulos, who blitzed 70 off 76 deliveries, with 5 fours and 1 six.

Still, Nanopoulos thought Dandy were at least 40 runs short of where they needed to be.

He eventually fell to Rams champion David King, who took 3-27 off seven overs with his medium pace.

King was to have a larger say on the match with his batting.

Nanopoulos removed key men Tom Rogers (LBW for 0) and Holland (caught behind for two), Josh Hartill was run out for nine and spinner Suraj Randiv claimed Jack Blain for four as the Rams wobbled at 4-37.

King, one of Premier Cricket’s champion players, has often restored Ringwood’s fortunes from that sort of position – he’s better in a crisis than a cakewalk – and he batted steadily and sensibly for 50, off 88 deliveries and with 3 fours.

Jackson Freeman contributed 22, and seventh-wicket pair Arjun Dhull (23no) and Jake Toohey (26no) took the visitors past their target with an unbroken partnership of 45.

Former Test man Randiv was superb for the Panthers with 1-12 off his eight overs.

Coach Sean Flynn said it was a “huge’’ win for Ringwood.

“You don’t want to get too far behind,’’ he said.

“We were 2-3 going into the game, and 3-3 is so much better than 2-4.

“A lot of guys contributed as well. It was a really strong team effort.’’

He said Hampshire all-rounder Holland’s hat-trick set the Rams on the way, knocking over “three genuine batsmen’’.

As for King, Flynn said the champion had had a lean patch but played a fine innings just when the team needed it.

“It was tense at times (the run chase), but our guys were really mature in how they went about it. They trusted each other.’’

Flynn said Randiv was outstanding. “It was really enjoyable to watch him bowl, even as an opposition coach. You respect and admire his skill.’’

The Panthers gave a debut to Jarryd Wills, the son of Dandenong District association great Gavan Wills. Unfortunately he was run out for a duck.