Dandenong makes fine start to Premier season

The Panthers won the First XI well and had some outstanding performers down the grades.

Braden Taeuber took five wickets in his first outing for Dandenong.

Dandenong has done something many Premier Cricket bowling attacks have failed to do in recent years.

It has split its great opening combination of Tommy Donnell and Brett Forsyth.

Donnell had Lincoln “LJ’’ Edwards for company when he walked out to begin the Dandy innings against Frankston Peninsula in the season-starter at Jubilee Park on Saturday.

Forsyth was listed at No 3.

The Panthers won the match comfortably, easing to 2-149 in reply to 145.

As it was Donnell and Forsyth came together with the score on 27 when Edwards was dismissed for 12.

They put on 30, small beer by their standards (they have collaborated for 18 century partnerships), before Donnell was out for 30.

Forsyth and Ed Newman handled the innings the rest of the way, Forsyth hitting 41 off 88 balls and Newman blitzing 61 off 51, with 7 fours and 1 six.

Coach Warren Ayres made the decision to elevate Edwards with the aim of sharing the run-scoring load this season.

He’s aware that Donnell and Forsyth have got the side away to many successful starts, but he believes it’s best for the team.

“We just want to spread it around and give some guys more responsibility with the bat and have those generational players (Donnell and Forsyth) bat with younger guys so they learn quicker,’’ Ayres said.

“It took a bit of convincing to begin with but ‘Forsy’ has taken it on and played well in the practice matches and on Saturday.’’

In the runs: Dandy’s Ed Newman.

The coach was pleased with the Round 1 victory, calling it “professional’’. “We did most things right on the day … it’s good to get away to that sort of start,’’ he said.

Ayres also made the call to play Casey South Melbourne recruit Aaron Fernando as a wicketkeeper-batsman, squeezing premiership gloveman Jacques Augustin to the Second XI.

Augustin is one of the best wickies in the competition, but he’s been light on for runs in the past two seasons.

A proud Premier cricketer, he’ll be out to play well and give the selection committee something to think about.

Fernando took two catches as the Dandenong bowlers rounded up Frankston Peninsula in 47 overs.

Peter Cassidy nabbed 4-20 off 10 overs, James Nanopoulos 2-17 off 10, Jake Thomas 2-35 off nine, Suraj Randiv 1-29 off 10 and first-gamer Jack Fowler 1-41 off eight.

The Heat had been 4-34 but Jai Elcock (40) and Harrison Barnes (39) showed fight through the middle.

Ayres was also pleased with performances in the lower grades.

Cameron Forsyth captained the Dandenong seconds, made 87 and led the team to victory. There were also runs for Jarryd Wills (49), young Max Marinic (39) and Lachlan MacCorquodale (56).

Monbulk recruit Braden Taeuber also had a good match, with the tall paceman capturing 5-38 off 10 overs. The Panthers think he’s a bright prospect.

The returning Adam McMaster snaffled 3-43 off 9.1.

Triyan De Silva snared 5-53 off nine overs as the Panthers fought out a tie with Frankston Peninsula in the thirds.

And in the fourths 15-year-old Jaskabeer Singh, recruited from Mt Waverley, hit 51 in his first innings for the club, with 5 fours and 1 six.

In Round 2 of women’s Premier Cricket, Dandenong scored 6-251 and dismissed Prahran for 190.

Tiana Atkinson played a starring role with 70 off 74 balls, young Jess Matin hit a breezy 43 and the great Kelly Applebee cracked 47.

The club was also pleased to see Laura Croft return to the top team and she made 15 not out.

The Thirds had a good win too, with Paige Smith taking 3-8 and Kethmi Ekanayake making 41 not out.