Right: On your way … Melbourne’s Matthew Pinniger makes the long walk back to the pavilion after being dismissed by Dandenong’s Darren Pattinson. By Glen Atwell
DESPITE bowling themselves into a strong position early on the final day of play, the Dandenong Panthers could not stop the Melbourne Cricket Club tail wagging, costing them six valuable points in the VCA Premier League on Saturday.
Chasing 344 for victory, the MCC’s focus shifted from winning to surviving after losing 3/23 in the early stages of the match. Darren Pattinson and Paul Boraston did all the damage early – Pattinson removing Matthew Pinniger for 19, while Boraston had Grant Baldwin caught behind for four.
Minutes later, Boraston struck again, sending Liam Buchanan off for a duck.
Enter Andrew Kent and Robert Cooper to save the day for the MCC side. The pair saw more than 50 overs fly by and amassed a 161-run partnership, leaving the Panthers struggling to find the winning momentum.
Pattinson nabbed both Kent (69) and Cooper (92) caught behind, but the celebrations were short lived.
A 75-run partnership for the next wicket all but secured the draw for the MCC that despite losing seven wickets managed to hold on and deprive Dandenong of a much-needed points boost. Pattinson and Boraston both took 3/65 and seemed the only Dandenong bowlers capable of penetrating the MCC defence.
The true pitch left nothing to chance and the ball failed to do anything spectacular for the Panther bowlers.
The disappointing draw leaves Dandenong in equal seventh place on the firsts’ ladder with 12 points.
Carlton has already signalled its intentions this season, yet to lose a game and streaking away with 30 points, already two games clear of closest rivals St Kilda.
