Finals slip from Panthers’ grip

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG looks set to miss the Premier Cricket finals for the first time in six seasons.
Panthers’ coach Warren Ayres conceded as much after his side’s 116-run loss to St Kilda on Saturday.
Chasing 274 for victory, Dandenong’s batsmen wilted in scorching conditions at Junction Oval to be all out for a measly 157.
The loss saw Dandenong slip nine points adrift of the finals bracket with two matches to play, meaning it would take a near miracle for last year’s semi-finalists to vault into the top eight.
“We’ll see which way the other results go, but there’s probably not much chance of us playing finals now,” a deflated Ayres said this week.
“And, if I’m honest, we haven’t played well enough to be there.”
Ayres knew it would take a big century from one of his charges to take the points on Saturday and the conditions made that task almost impossible.
Skipper Darren Dempsey (44) and Matt Chasemore (24) took guard with the overnight score at 2/5, advancing the total to 47 before Chasemore was trapped in front by Saints part-timer Gareth Cross.
Dempsey departed in similar fashion – lbw to Adam Warren (2/28) this time – after a promising 48-run partnership with in-form left-hander James Nanopoulos (36).
The skipper’s dismissal sparked a batting collapse that was reminiscent of Dandenong’s capitulation at the same ground in last year’s semi.
The visitors lost 7/72 to be dismissed inside 60 overs.
For their part, the St Kilda bowlers – led by Tom Smith(3/22) – took full advantage of a rapidly deteriorating pitch and a batting line-up that struggled to maintain concentration as the mercury rose.
Ayres refused to use the heat as an excuse for the loss.
“Batting was obviously tough and it was a difficult wicket to stay in on, but it wasn’t much better the week before,” he said. “We just missed some chances (in the field) and that cost us.”
The equation is now clear for the 14th-placed Panthers.
They must win both games – against Melbourne Uni and Casey-South Melbourne – and hope that a handful of sides above them falter.
Realistically, they will need to win one of those games outright, but Ayres is not holding his breath.
“It’d be nice to get an outright, but they don’t come around every day,” he admitted.
“We play the two bottom sides, but that means nothing really.”
The uphill battle begins at Melbourne University this Saturday.