By Tyler Lewis
It was a disappointing afternoon for Frankston-Peninsula as Richmond demonstrated its class as the expense of the inconsistent Heat outfit.
The Heat have shown glimpses this summer, but have yet to win two matches in a row, toying with onlookers when they emerged as a possible finals smokey.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Frankston-Peninsula was always going to need to post a score in excess of 220 to compete with a strong Richmond batting grid.
Openers Nick Taranto (9) and Vish Bansal (28) compiled 36 together at the top and after Bansal launched two sixes in as many deliveries, it loomed as just another one of those days for the dasher.
But the Tigers instantly sent their opponents back to the ropes, dismissing both openers in the space of two overs.
And while James Nanopoulos (34) and Brodie Symons (55) pieced together a handy partnership, the Heat once again found a way to lose control of the innings.
Richmond wobbly bowler Dom Matarazzo entered the match by taking the catch to dismiss Nanopoulos, before he etched himself into the history books.
The right-arm seamer claimed a hat-trick to torpedo through the Heat batting card.
Matarazzo’s 4/19 from 8.4 – and a run out, meant the final six Heat batters couldn’t muster a score over eight.
With 165 on the board, the home side needed something remarkable – Matarazzo-like – from its frontline bowlers.
But the Tigers were too stylish, timing the innings to perfection to reel in the total, passing the Heat in the 44th over six wickets down.
Reigning Ryder Medal winner – and Netherlands international – Scott Edwards guided his side home with 49 not out to go with his century last week.
While the Heat would be far from impressed with its inability to back up performances in succeeding weeks, the Frankston-Peninsula side can find solace in knowing it restricted the Tigers from chasing the total inside 40 overs.
This deprived Richmond of the bonus point, which could’ve very well handed the Tigers a position inside the top four.
Frankston-Peninsula will host Ringwood in the upcoming fixture.
VPC LADDER
TEAM W L Pts %
St Kilda 11 0 62 1.17
Carlton 9 1 54 1.138
Melbourne 8 2 47 0.65
Richmond 7 4 41 0.599
Northcote 7 4 40 0.605
Casey-South Melbourne 6 5 38 0.589
Footscray 6 4 36 -0.152
Geelong 6 5 33 0.069
Melbourne University 5 5 32 0.123
Essendon 5 6 29 -0.429
Fitzroy Doncaster 5 6 27 -0.303
Prahran 4 7 24 -0.089
Frankston Peninsula 4 7 24 -0.159
Ringwood 4 7 24 -0.381
Dandenong 3 8 19 -0.595
Greenvale Kangaroos 3 8 18 -1.008
Kingston Hawthorn 2 9 13 -0.721
Camberwell Magpies 2 9 12 -1.061
