Chasemore haul helps Saints demolish Dandenong.

St.Kilda all-rounder, Matt Chasemore (above), has continued his fine season taking 5-21 as the Saints rolled Dandenong for just 128 in round seven of the Bartercard Victorian Premier League at the Junction Oval. Chasemore is currently second on both the competition’s bowling and batting averages and many would wonder why he hasn’t been afforded the opportunity to play for his state.

St.Kilda won the toss and sent the visitors in on what appeared a good strip for batting but local knowledge paid off early for the Saints as they soon had Dandenong in trouble.  Four of the first five batsmen for the Panthers failed to reach double figures as Lachlan Graf, Daniel Mueller and Chasemore helped themselves to wickets.

Nearing lunch the Panthers were 5-70 with opener Tom Donnell the only batsman to show any resistance with 34 before being trapped in front off Graf. After the break the Saints again turned the screws as Chasemore took over. He dismissed James Pattinson (10); skipper Daniel Doran (13) and paceman James Wilcock without scoring, to have the Panthers in all sorts at 8-116.

Shortly after, James Nanopoulos, who had batted well for 36, hit one straight to Andrew McGuiness from the first ball of spinner James Muirhead’s only over. Muirhead was again involved the following over when there was a mix-up between Panthers pair, Justin Butterfield and Matthew Willcocks; Muirhead quickly getting the throw into keeper Tom Morris with Willcocks well out of his ground.

Dandenong’s 128 from just 48.3 overs was well short of a competitive score against the Saints at the Junction. Chasemore 5-21 coming from fourteen overs and six maidens and he was well supported by Graf with 2-37 with Mueller and Muirhead picking up a wicket each.

When umpires stopped play due to bad light the Saints were 3-122 in reply with captain Graeme Rummans (16) and Andrew McGuiness (2) at the crease. Openers Jackson Cooper and Josh Manning combined for 62 before Cooper was bowled by Nanopoulos for 41.

Early destroyer, Chasemore, was next to go when he fell to Wilcock, trapped in front for 19 and then soon after Manning too was lbw, this time to Nanopoulos for 34.The Saints just seven runs short of a first innings win to keep them in touch with the top eight.