Panthers down Demons in shock win to semis

By Paul Pickering
THE Dandenong Panthers have shocked a star-studded Melbourne side to secure their berth among a surprising Premier Cricket semi-finals quartet.
In a stunning weekend of upsets, Dandenong had accounted for the highly-rated Demons – led by Bushrangers Brad Hodge and Andrew McDonald – before lunch on Sunday.
After scraping into the finals in seventh place, Dandenong turned the tables on second-placed Melbourne to claim a six-wicket victory at the Albert Ground.
By captain-coach Warren Ayres’ own admission, it was a dream outing for the Panthers.
“It couldn’t have gone any better for us really,” Ayres said after the match.
“I lost the toss, but that was about all we lost for the weekend.
“It was one of those games where everything seems to go right.”
And just as Ayres predicted last week, it was the Panthers young guns who led the way, with finals debutants Brett Forsyth (100 not out) and James Pattinson (4/50) proving to be the book-ends with bat and ball.
Forsyth, 19, and Pattinson, 17, both missed Dandenong’s triumphant finals campaign last summer, but their performances on the weekend were largely responsible for keeping the Panthers back-to-back premiership aspirations alive.
Pattinson combined brilliantly with his older brother, Darren, in a penetrating new-ball spell that put the Demons on the back foot from the outset.
‘Junior’ claimed the vital wicket of Melbourne opener – and leading run-scorer – Andrew Kent (7) to seize the early advantage.
Minutes later, Darren trapped Ben Way in front for three, before effecting the run-out of Australian under-19 captain Michael Hill (9).
At 3/20, McDonald joined Hodge at the crease to set about reviving Melbourne’s innings, but first-change seamer Paul Boraston (3/52) skittled McDonald to separate the dangerous Bushrangers duo.
Hodge (41) was looking in ominous form before having his poles rearranged by Panthers all-rounder Dave Newman (1/24), leaving only Mike Smith (48 not out) and Nick Quinn (31) to guide Melbourne to a meagre total of 185.
In reply, Dandenong recovered from the early loss of Kumar Sarna (0) – slashing a cut-shot straight to gully – to take the score to 2/108 at stumps on day one.
Having teamed with Matt Chasemore (38) to see the Panthers through Saturday afternoon, Forsyth combined with another left-hander in Newman (40) to bring Dandenong to within 20 runs of victory on Sunday.
Forsyth was fed the strike by Adam Bull and Ayres, allowing him to notch up his third century for the season with the final shot of the match.
Fittingly, it was Ayres – who began his career at Melbourne and won a Jack Ryder Medal with Dees in 2001-02 – at the other end as Forsyth hit the winning runs.
After walking off the Albert Ground for perhaps the last time in his decorated career, Ayres said he was delighted to see the Panthers young guns rise to the challenge.
Nonetheless, he said his charges were well aware that their job was far from done.
“Obviously they’re quite happy, but they’re not getting ahead of themselves,” he said.
“They know there’s a couple of games left to go.”
Dandenong will now square off against Geelong at the Junction Oval in St Kilda this weekend, while Ringwood and Melbourne Uni fight to secure the other grand final spot.
The Cats – who finished fifth in the regular season – are loaded with talent, boasting the competition’s leading run-scorer, Aaron Finch, and equal leading wicket-taker, Trent Walerys.
They made light work of Carlton on the weekend, chasing down the Blues total of 177 with six wickets to spare.
In their only encounter with Geelong this season, the Panthers fell 43 runs short at Kardinia Park.
But Dandenong was without Sarna and the Pattinson brothers that weekend, and the neutral venue is likely to provide a much happier hunting ground for the Panthers.
Play will begin at 11am on Saturday.