By JARROD POTTER
Victorian Premier Cricket – Premier Round 16 (day 1)
THE tough days in the field are not going away for Dandenong as Ringwood (5/341) piled on the pain at Shepley Oval.
With hot, windy conditions ideally favouring neither side, the Rams took the initiative first as captain Tom Stray (158 not out) smashed his best Premier Cricket tally.
The early strike from Justin Butterfield (1/67) was about the only joy the Panthers could muster as Stray cantered past the opposition’s attack.
Stray – in tandem with David King (44) – knocked in 79 for the second wicket before Dan Doran (1/64) – who enjoyed the gusty wind pushing across his off-spinners at the pavilion end – picked up his solitary wicket of the afternoon.
The pressure would only magnify from there for Dandenong as Stray and Ian Holland (90) put on the match-defining partnership – a Herculean 173-run stand to all but sink Dandenong’s resolve on the first day.
Young paceman Adam McMaster (2/51) snared career best figures as he kept the ball up to Stray and Holland throughout the afternoon and eventually forced the false shot from Holland 10 shy of his century.
Stray was unbeaten at stumps and will resume on Saturday.
Women – Round 17 Twenty20
Action at Greaves Reserve did not bode any better for Dandenong Lions (4/99), who were eclipsed by Essendon Maribyrnong-Park (6/105) in the dying stages of their Twenty20.
After losing the early scalps of Erica Kershaw (1) and Chelsea Moscript (2), the Dandenong renaissance would be ignited by captain Kelly Applebee (39). Applebee – back from VicSpirit duties – took hold of the innings and in tandem with Shelly Hart (28 not out), led the Lions out of complete capitulation. Hart would carry on with seconds skipper Carin Eastburn (15 not out) – promoted on the back of her 500 run WVPC seconds season so far – to push the Lions all but past the triple figure mark from their 20 overs.
In response, Essendon-Maribyrnong Park had similar top-order issues as Australian quick Julie Hunter (2/8) stormed in. When Primrose Wohlers (1/15) took the third scalp, the visitors were 3/24 and looking down the same barrel of defeat that Dandenong once gazed upon. In the end a resolute knock from Natalie Schilov (34) made the difference alongside a better than run a ball innings from Jane Neil (17 not out) to knock over the Lions. Dandenong sits third on the ladder and hosts Plenty Valley on 21 February after a bye.
