Panthers so close to win

By Paul Pickering
MISSED opportunity or encouraging fightback?
The Dandenong Panthers are still unsure about how to frame Saturday’s dramatic draw against the Camberwell Magpies.
Having conceded 9/421 on a docile day one deck at Camberwell Sports Ground, the Panthers did everything but steal the points from the Magpies on the weekend.
In fact, at 3/277 midway through Saturday afternoon, it seemed only time could stop the Panthers.
At that stage, 19-year-old opener Brett Forsyth (107) looked to have set up a Dandenong victory with his maiden first-grade ton, and resurgent stars Tom Donnell (45) and Dave Newman (83) were progressing steadily towards Camberwell’s formidable total.
But when Donnell and then Warren Ayres (12) edged through to Magpie wicketkeeper Jeremy Bray in quick succession, the Panthers’ lower order was exposed.
Despite the efforts of Newman and gloveman Ricky Damiano (33) to re-establish the ascendancy, the Panthers could not stop the bleeding – falling to 9/386 as Justin Butterfield joined Paul Boraston at the crease.
With wickets tumbling as dusk descended, the tail-enders were forced to give up the chase with three overs to go, ultimately holding off the Magpies to finish at 9/395 from their allotted 100 overs.
“We were happy but yet disappointed that we got so close without getting the points,” Ayres said.
“It was a really good track so there wasn’t a lot of margin for error for the bowlers, and the match ebbed and flowed both ways.”
Along with the continued rise of Forsyth, the return to form of Donnell and Newman – last season’s heroes – was a promising sign for the Panthers.
The improved performance will provide a solid foundation for Dandenong as it tries to rebuild after an early-season slump.
The Panthers will host Hawthorn-Monash Uni at Shepley Oval during the next fortnight.