Dandenong Panther Darren Pattinson was the pick of his team’s bowlers on Saturday and may have to provide some batting support to get his side over the line this weekend.By Glen Atwell
AN end-of-day batting collapse by the Dandenong Cricket Club’s Premier League first side has left the Panthers in a awkward position as the match concludes this Saturday against Carlton at Princes Park.
After winning the toss and batting, the Carlton openers got away to a flyer before Peter Siddle removed Ben O’Brien for 21.
O’Brien had barely made himself comfortable in the rooms when fellow opener Michael Allen trudged through the door after Darren Pattinson had him caught out for 12.
Evan Gulbis was the only Carlton batsman in the first eight not to reach double figures as each Carlton bat got a start but could not build on solid foundations.
Jeremy Brown top-scored for Carlton with 34.
Dandenong’s Peter Siddle cleaned up the tail to prevent Carlton from hitting the 200-run mark, taking 3/58 from 19 overs, but managed to bowl eight no balls.
Darren Pattinson was the pick of the Dandenong bowlers with 3/37 of 16 overs, including five maidens.
With plenty of batting left in the day, the Panthers’ innings got off to the worst possible start when Matthew Chasemore was deemed out lbw for a duck after an Adrian Dickinson fast ball smashed into his front pad.
John Holland then ripped through the Panthers’ top order, ousting Kumar Sana (13), Tim Hooper (0) and Adrian Burgiel (2) in quick succession to leave Dandenong 4/50 at stumps.
The innings rests on captain Warren Ayres’ shoulders.
Unbeaten on 35, Ayres has to make a century to save the Panthers – who need 143 to reach the target – from defeat.
However, if Siddle can remain at the crease and provide batting support for Ayres, the Panthers are every chance to pull themselves from the jaws of defeat.
