Boraston back on pace for Panthers

By Glen Atwell
THE Dandenong Panthers continued to charge towards the Victorian Premier League finals with a 33-run victory against Ringwood at Jubilee Park on the weekend.
It was the last two-day match before the Christmas break, but Dandenong managed to keep its mind off the festive turkey and on the game at hand, dismissing Ringwood for a dismal 158 on Saturday.
Returning Dandenong pace bowler Paul Boraston did the most damage.
Boraston and fellow fast Peter Siddle led the Dandenong pace attack, which also welcomed back Darren Pattinson (1/29) from state duties.
Boraston snared 3/15 and bowled seven maidens in his 15-over spell, while Siddle took 2/38 from his 10 overs.
Ringwood had no answers to the Dandenong bowling attack, as five batsmen failed to make double figures and lower-order batsmen Michael King top-scored with an unbeaten 28.
In reply, Dandenong made hard work of its run chase and at one stage was trapped at 3/18.
Resuming at 3/26 on Sunday morning, Dandenong lost Peter Siddle for a duck and coach Warren Ayres managed only 12 before he was dismissed.
The score was 5/43 and Ringwood’s 158 suddenly seemed far, far away.
Enter Tim Hooper.
The all-rounder steered Dandenong towards victory belting 82 runs, but his team-mates continued to lose their wickets.
David Newman offered some support with 19 runs, before Pattinson and Ricky Damiano both departed without troubling the scorers.
With Dandenong at 8/126, Ringwood needed two wickets for victory and Dandenong required 33 runs to win.
With number 10 batsman Nathan Allen at the crease the odds were stacked in Ringwood’s favour, but Allen proved otherwise, adding 31 runs and carrying his bat as Dandenong recorded a courageous victory.
The Panthers now take a well-earned break until 6 January, when they resume the season against Hawthorn-Monash Uni in the Victorian Premier League country round.