Panthers’ all-rounder Liam Dawson takes a diving catch at third slip to leave Casey-South Melbourne 3/17, but Casey would fight back to take a three-wicket victory. 76761 Picture: Jarrod Potter
By Jarrod Potter
DANDENONG Panthers went from an unbeatable position to a shock loss in the space of half a day against Casey-South Melbourne, as Brett Maggs and Nathan Hibbins grasped the comeback victory for the Swans.
Maggs and Hibbins were brought together at the crease with the dire scoreline of 7/122 looming overhead and victory closing in for the Panthers.
The pair put on 133 for the eighth wicket to steer Casey-South Melbourne to victory.
Dandenong captain Darren Dempsey said they couldn’t dismiss the two batsmen when required.
“We went from fairly buoyant to fairly disappointing in the end,” Dempsey said.
“From there (7/122) we usually win most games, but the two guys who batted well for them didn’t offer a chance.
“Brent Fairbanks hurt his thigh and had taken a wicket with the first ball of his first over, bowled two more and then didn’t bowl again.
“When we could only rotate two quicks, one in his first game (Willcocks), it put us under a lot more pressure under the slow bowlers and it wasn’t turning much.”
Leongatha’s Matt Willcocks took 2/40 in his first Premier match, bowling 18 overs in tandem with Justin Butterfield after Brent Fairbanks went down with his injury.
“Thought he bowled really well for a first game,” Dempsey said. “2/40 off 18 overs is a good return and he did a very good job in less than helpful conditions.
“Thought he bowled a very consistent line and length.”
Fairbanks took 2/26 before going off injured and Justin Butterfield took 2/64 having just returned from injury himself.
Dempsey believes Dandenong goes into this week’s match against Essendon in a good position, despite the long injury list on the bowling front, with Fairbanks, Darren Pattinson, Paul Boraston and James Wilcock all unavailable. “They’re a bit inconsistent at the moment,” Dempsey said. “We should go in pretty confident but we are battling with our bowlers. We’re going to have to find a way to take those wickets, it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to have to find a way between now and Saturday to get ten wickets.”
Willcocks and Butterfield are good bowlers, but the next level below them is the worry. The first change and second change is where we’ll find it hard.”
On the matter of needing three runs to join the 10,000 run club in Victorian Premier Cricket, Dempsey wanted it to be part of a bigger innings which steers Dandenong to victory rather than thinking of it as just three runs.
“Would like it to be a part of a 50 or part of 100 and help us win the game,” Dempsey said. “It will more than likely happen this game and I’ll be happy to get it done and dusted as a part of due course for the match and hopefully sets us up for a win. I think between now and the end of the season I should be able to scrounge up three runs.”
