Panthers drop shield

By Paul Pickering
SATURDAY was a day of firsts for the Dandenong Panthers.
The Premier cricket season-opener against Northcote marked the first time the Panthers had played for the Brendan McArdle Shield, the first outing for new skipper Darren Dempsey and the first time Warren Ayres hadn’t taken the field on opening day since 1983.
None of that will be remembered, because it was also Dandenong’s first loss of the season.
The Panthers posted a competitive total of 9/207 from their allotted 50 overs, only for the Dragons to eclipse that score with five wickets and six balls to spare.
Dempsey won the toss and elected to back his batting line-up against the Dragons attack under overcast conditions, but the swing of Tim Hoare claimed the early scalps of Kumar Sarna and Tom Donnell.
Dempsey joined opener Brett Forsyth at the crease, and the pair looked to have seen out the toughest of the conditions before Forsyth played an uncharacteristic rash shot – trying to hoick the ball over mid-wicket from outside off stump – in a bid to increase the ailing run-rate.
But, Dempsey went on with the job, bludgeoning the Dragons to all parts of Shepley Oval in a spectacular debut innings that included three sixes and two fours.
The brutish right-hander got off the mark with a six off Northcote paceman Mark Doyle and later brought up his half-century with a disdainful drive over the long-on fence.
The skipper had useful support from all-rounders Matt Chasemore and Dave Newman in taking the score from 3/66 to 5/146, so he was understandably annoyed when he holed out at long-on in the 44th over.
As good as Dempsey was, 19-year-old all-rounder James Nanopoulos who almost stole the show with a crisp and creative display of hitting that reaped 40 runs from just 28 balls and guided the Panthers past 200.
The fact that Nanopoulos also finished with his Dandenong’s best bowling figures – 1/28 from eight overs – probably summed up the afternoon.
The formidable Panthers strike force of James Pattinson, Paul Boraston and Dave Newman failed to find their rhythm, while newcomer Andrew Perrin and part-time spinner Kumar Sarna bowled just seven overs between them.
Meanwhile, Northcote batted with maturity, patience and a liberal dose of class in steadily reeling in their target.
Opener Jarrod Carlson led the way with 72, while David Wildsmith (55) and Travis Gloury (33 not out) enjoyed their time in the middle as the Dragons snuck home to claim the inaugural Brendan McArdle Shield – named after the legendary all-rounder who represented both sides in the 70s and 80s. Ayres said his side probably paid for the decision to bat first and the sluggish start that followed.
“Looking back, maybe bowling first might have been a better option, because at that time the wicket was at its juiciest,” he said.“If we had those extra runs, maybe the chances (in the field) would have been more forthcoming, because they would have had to push the rate at times.”
Ayres praised the performances of Nanopoulos and Dempsey, saying it was a shame the latter’s impressive first-up innings had to come in a losing side. “It’s disappointing, because it would have been a great start for him (Dempsey), but hopefully we can bounce back strongly this weekend.”
The Panthers play Ringwood at home on Saturday, before travelling to the Albert Ground to face Melbourne on Sunday.