By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET – Premier 1st Round 15 (day 2)
BLASTING past a whopping target, Dandenong (7/316) claimed its most emphatic win of the season after chasing down Casey-South Melbourne (313).
It was a horror start for the visitors as Dan Watson (3/79) and Simon Black (1/44) extracted swing, bounce and, most importantly, the entire Dandenong top order early on Saturday.
When David Alleyne (15 retired hurt) had to leave the game with a severely injured calf, the Panthers’ initiative had been completely derailed… except for one man.
James Nanopoulos (140) stood tall when his team mates needed to rally around someone.
The Panthers’ all-rounder – never before venturing over 72 in the 1st Grade – took it on his shoulders to guide his side home.
With another Dandenong all-rounder – James Pattinson (64) in tow, the duo added a century-stand to torment Casey captain Chris Hall (0/67) and his Swans.
Pattinson would finally give back his wicket – as Lachie Sperling (3/68) spun his first wicket of the afternoon – and gave Casey-South Melbourne its last sniff of victory.
Peter Siddle (14) and Peter Sweeney (7) would come and go leaving only Nanopoulos and the tail to get the remaining runs as the wind howled across Casey Fields.
Nanopoulos stayed the course and secured his maiden Premier century as he batted out another strong stand with debutant bowler Adam McMaster (29 not out).
Dandenong captain Dan Doran didn’t bat on Saturday as he left it up to his younger quicks to bat out the final overs and secure the victory.
McMaster would take the reins once Nanopoulos’ sterling innings ended, skittled by Watson, and with James Wilcock (12 not out) the duo earned the final 24 runs to give the Shepley Oval contingent its best win of the season.
Dandenong moves into 14th on the Premier ladder and hosts Ringwood this round.
A dog of a year continues for 18th and sadly last placed Casey-South Melbourne as the team pads up this weekend against Frankston-Peninsula.
