By Luke Voogt
A mammoth seventh-wicket partnership has stolen a semi-final victory from Geelong.
The 137-run stand helped Dandenong win by three wickets last Saturday, with just three balls remaining, denying Geelong a place in this Saturday’s grand final.
Geelong was without captain and top run-scorer Eamonn Vines, who underwent surgery for a ruptured testicle from the Cats’ quarter final win.
Dandenong sent Geelong in with Hayden Butterworth and Vines’ replacement Jack Riding making slow but steady progress in blustery conditions.
Riding, who averaged 50.43 for the seconds before stepping up, managed 31 in his First XI debut before former Sri Lankan off spinner Suraj Randiv sneaked one through for a stumping (1/65).
The Cats lost Josh McDonald just one run later but put on 48 before Tom Jackson skied a pull shot (3/114).
Butterworth fell next on 55 following a superb running catch by Edward Newman, with Geelong struggling to get the run rate past 3.25.
But Gus Boyd’s 44 off 36 (fours 4s, two 6s) and brothers Tom (22 off 20) and Josh Larkin (13* off 14) helped Geelong speed up the scoring.
Leg spinner Tom O’Connell had another important batting cameo throwing Dandenong’s bowlers off by side-stepping at the crease and hitting two impressive cross-bat sixes.
His 21 off 15 helped Geelong finish on 6/219. Geelong started well with the ball as Josh Garner trapped Tom Donnell LBW (1/15) and Josh Larkin bowled Josh Slater with a ripper (2/41).
The Panthers also struggled to get the run rate above three, and their efforts to speed up their scoring triggered a four-wicket collapse when Newman holed out off Hayden Butterworth (3/79).
The Panthers lost three more wickets including dangerous opener Brett Forsyth and all-rounder James Nanopoulos.
But Jacques Augustin and Peter Cassidy fought on and luck went their way.
In the 39th four leg byes sneaked by McDonald before the Cats keeper dropped Augustin on 27 lunging to his right three balls later.
Needing 80 off the last 10, the pair threw caution to the wind, getting the runs required down to 19 off two overs before smashing Brody Couch for 18 to level the scores.
The Cats had a glimmer of hope for a tie when Cassidy chipped Dom McGlinchey’s first ball to mid-wicket to be caught on 56.
But two balls later Jack Fowler hit the winning boundary with Augustin finishing unbeaten on 71 off 56.
