Premier Cricket: Matt Wilson heads competition wicket list in first season at Dandenong

The performances of Matt Wilson, Gehan Seneviratne and Braden Taeuber have been a positive in Dandenong’s scratchy season.

Leggie Gehan Seneviratne is playing with a lot of spirit for Dandenong. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Dandenong may have lost last Saturday’s match against Geelong, but it can be confident it has found three players to help carry the First XI forward.

The 2021-22 season was always going to be a battle for the Panthers given they lost most of the team that went through to last season’s grand final.

A lot of players have been tried in the top side, one or two because of Covid unavailabilities.

Dandy have won three matches, the most recent against a depleted Ringwood XI.

They were thrashed last week at Essendon but on Saturday they put in a commendable performance against Geelong at Shepley Oval, hitting 221 in reply to 8-245.

At one stage they were threatening to get closer after a spirited partnership between Gehan Seneviratne and Braden Taeuber.

They came together with the score on 7-125 and ensured the innings would see in the late overs.

They had put on 64 when Seneviratne, on 46 off 49 balls, hit a catch to short cover.

He had hit 3 sixes and 2 fours to again show that he is a player who will go down only after a fight.

The tall Taeuber went on to his first half-century, being run out for 52 as he ambitiously came back for a second.

There were 2 sixes and 4 fours in a 56-ball stay that suggested he could develop into an all-rounder.

The fast-rising Braden Taeuber.

Both Seneviratne (3-49 off 10) and Taeuber (2-41 off eight) had earlier contributed in the bowling effort.

Matt Wilson also chipped in with bat and ball, making 35 off 39 deliveries and capturing 3-51 off nine overs.

The Carlton signing has the most wickets in Premier Cricket this season, 21, taken at 16.29. He’s also averaging 24 in the middle-order, handy for a side that is struggling for runs.

Dandenong captain Brett Forsyth said Wilson had been a terrific recruit.

“He’s putting together a wonderful season,’’ he said.

“He’s been given some tough tasks by the captain, asked to bowl in tough situations, and he’s done it well.

“We’re certainly happy with his leadership and his trajectory. He’s been a great asset on and off the field.’’

With a string of not-outs Seneviratne, another former Carlton player, is averaging 46 with the bat.

“I’m not surprised by his performances,’’ Forsyth said.

“Because we’ve had a strong Second XI some of these players were doing really well and some of them were ready to take that next step.

“His leg-spin has been great. He’s been asked to bowl in difficult situations sometimes at the end. And he’s always up for the challenges. He’s unlucky not to have more wickets. His batting has been very good too.

“The challenge for him is to finish off well and help us win a few more games, which he’s working hard to do.’’

He said Taueber was “coming along nicely’’ as a 6’6 fast bowler who “really hits the deck’’ and was showing his ability with the bat.

Meanwhile, the Dandenong Women’s Firsts team held out Prahran in a thrilling match at Shepley Oval on Sunday.

The Panthers pulled off three late run-outs to dismiss Prahran for 197 as it chased 200.

The visitors were 3-142 but lost experienced pair Sophie Day (15) and Jennifer Taffs (45) in the space of 12 runs.

Dandenong put the squeeze on the lower-order after Merinda Hale (21) and Elizabeth Cormack (18) took the visitors to within 10 runs of victory.

Lucy Cripps led the Dandy batting with 51 off 65 balls.

The Panthers are third on the ladder, behind Melbourne and Carlton. Ringwood is fourth.