Panthers on fire

By Justin Robertson
DANDENONG Panthers have reached the Premier cricket semi finals after they demolished Casey-South Melbourne by 85 runs in their quarter final date at Casey Fields over the long weekend.
Panthers’ skipper Darren Dempsey said his team was absolutely rapt with the win.
“Before the season started, we really hoped to be competitive this year,” he said. “But we never thought we’d be playing in a semi-final. We are thrilled with the win and look forward to playing Carlton this week.”
After being sent in to bat, the Panthers found it tough early at 2/25, but Peter Sweeney (51) and skipper Darren Dempsey (27) put on a valuable 74-run partnership.
“That was the best partnership of the match and it helped us get to plus 200,” Dempsey said. “Sweeney’s innings was fantastic. To go from batting at eight, to number three in a final and make 50, was more than I could ask for.”
But after a partnership that had the Panthers in control of the game they then lost their way, losing 7/74. A late 38-run last wicket stand between Brett Fairbanks (29 not out) and Paul Boraston (23) salvaged their innings and were able to post a defendable target of 208 on a low wearing pitch.
“Conditions were hard early and we definitely found it tough to score,” Dempsey said. “It played a little slow. Even when Sweeney and I had our eyes in, the pitch was still a bit hard to read.”
With only a handful of overs remaining late on Saturday, the Panthers struck with two wickets leaving the game evenly poised with the Swans 2/22, needing a further 187 runs for victory on Sunday.
The match was turned on its head in the first session as the Panthers took five wickets including the prized scalp of English import Peter Trego (24) leaving the Swans in dire straits at 7/99 by lunch, with little chance of winning. They were eventually steamrolled for 123, with Justin Butterfield leading the charge, taking his season’s best figures of 5/29.
“He bowled beautifully,” Dempsey said. “He took all his wickets on the Sunday and really helped set up the win with an amazing spell.”
It’s been a stellar season for Butterfield, considering he played the first four games of this year in the second XI, taking seven wickets, and has since played every senior first XI game (12) claiming 32 wickets at an average of 12.8.
The Panthers will be bolstered by the return of Victorian quick, James Pattinson, with Australian Test quick Peter Siddle also expected to play this week against Carlton at Princes Park.
“They beat us early in the year when we were a bit light on bowlers,” Dempsey said. “But we’ll be strengthened in that department this week and, we’ll be taking good cricket form into the game too, so we are every chance to have a win.”