Panthers rocked by

By Paul Pickering
IT took 18 minutes at the crease to leave a bitter taste in the Dandenong Panthers’ mouths on Saturday.
Dandenong held St Kilda to a par score of 273 on day one of the crucial clash at the Junction Oval, only to surrender the momentum by losing two quick wickets before stumps.
Openers Brett Forsyth (2) and Tom Donnell (0) were both dismissed in the awkward four-over twilight session, leaving the Panthers at 2/5 heading into day two.
Despite the late setback, Dandenong coach Warren Ayres was sympathetic to the plight of his openers.
“You’re on a hiding to nothing in that situation,” he said.
“They both had their plans and they probably got out thinking the complete opposite to each other.
“Tom was looking to defend, whereas Brett was trying to be more aggressive – and they both missed out.”
Earlier, the Saints’ top-order batsmen looked to have set-up a formidable platform when they passed three figures with just one wicket down – assisted by a succession of dropped catches in the field.
But it was Panthers all-rounder James Nanopoulos (3/57) who turned the tide, trapping Saints number three Gareth Cross (37) in front to break a 69-run second-wicket stand.
From there the visitors toiled manfully to peg St Kilda back to a gettable total, but Ayres was left ruing some missed opportunities.
“I thought we worked away well all day, and if things have fallen our way a little bit we might have been chasing a 230-type figure instead of 270.
“We created about 15 chances for the day, but the dropped chances early in the day were probably what hurt us.”
Strike bowler Darren Pattinson was again the linchpin for the Panthers, claiming 2/24 from 14 overs despite being hampered by a troublesome ankle.
Nanapoulos’ medium-pacers posed a constant threat during his 22 overs, while 16-year-old debutant James Wilcock didn’t look out of his depth in taking 1/34 from his 12.
Wilcock, who was courted by St Kilda while playing for Berwick in the DDCA last summer, dismissed Saints skipper Glenn Lalor to claim his maiden first XI scalp.
Ayres was impressed by Wilcock’s first-up performance, which followed the debut of fellow teenager Jackson Coleman last week.
“James has got a lot of learning and growing to do, but he’s definitely a prospect for us,” he said.
“Both of those guys (Wilcock and Coleman) acquitted themselves really well and I’m sure they’ll be leading our attack in the coming years.”
As for the run chase this Saturday, Ayres is quietly confident that the Panthers can affect an upset.
“To win this one somebody’s going to have to get a good hundred,” he said.
“But that can happen at St Kilda, because if you get in you should be able to score reasonably fluently. It’ll be a good challenge.”
Another first-gamer, teenage batsman Ben Hillard, will get his chance this weekend.