By Nick Creely
TOM Donnell’s masterclass capped off a dominant weekend of Victorian Premier Cricket for Dandenong.
In the first of three double-headers in this year’s Premier competition, The Panthers saluted victory twice and now sit atop the ladder heading into Round 5.
On Saturday, The Panthers hosted Melbourne University, who won the toss and elected to bat on a humid and windy day at Shepley Oval.
With the pressure of some accurate and threatening bowling, the Panthers were able to restrict University to 6/82 at one point, before James Bett (38) and Steven Reid (22) ensured they would reach a respectable total of 149.
James Nanopoulos, the wily all-rounder, playing his 150th game of Premier Cricket, continued his strong start to the season, picking up 4/22 off 8.1 overs.
At one point, Nanopoulos picked up three top-order wickets in a manner of 25 minutes to leave the University in disarray.
Peter Cassidy (3/30) and Justin Butterfield (1/26) provided valuable support as seam-bowlers, while UK recruit Callum Parkinson (1/30) was accurate and bogged down University with his clever change of speed, flight and bounce troubling the batsman.
It seemed it would be a tough chase for the Panthers due to the strong wind and the ability of the pitch to move and create headaches for the batsman.
But this is not how the chase eventuated.
In fact, it was the polar opposite to the approach the University took for their innings.
Enter Tom Donnell, who ploughed his 10th Premier hundred, and combined with Brett Forsyth (29), who would just lean on his bat at the non-striker’s end, blew away a hapless University bowling attack in just 17.3 overs.
The Panthers skipper stunned the viewers at Shepley Oval on Saturday, blasting an unbeaten 114 off just 60 balls, with five massive sixes, including one that landed on the roof of a car.
Some remarked that it’s the greatest batting performance the Premier stage has ever seen- and they may be right.
In fact, many viewers who had gone out to grab a quick bite to eat before returning to watch the chase were stunned when they realised they’d have to turn straight around because the game was already over.
Fellow batsman Lincoln Edwards was shocked at Donnell’s innings, saying it is up there with the best performances in his time in Premier Cricket.
“I think every one of us sitting in the stands was just speechless.
“The way he was striking the ball and with such consistency, I hadn’t seen anything like that since playing premier cricket.
“What made it even more amazing was how risk free his shot selection was, “Edwards remarked.
It was a masterclass, and an ominous sign of the power that the Panthers possess in their armoury.
Sky-high on confidence, the Panthers then travelled to Schramms Reserve to tackle the reigning premiers Fitzroy Doncaster on Sunday.
Knowing full well how confident the Panthers are chasing, Tom Donnell sent the Lions in too bat on their home deck.
Once again, the Panthers were able to dismantle the top-order of the opposition, leaving them at 4/38 before a couple of solid partnership drove them to 9/175 off their allotted 50 overs.
Adam McMaster (3/46), Peter Cassidy (2/34) and James Nanopoulos (2/29) were amongst the wickets, with Cassidy in particular taking the vital scalps of Lions skipper Peter Dickson (13) and Trent Lawford (27 off 24 balls).
Tom Donnell and Brett Forsyth combined brilliantly once again, putting on 41 for the first wicket, before Donnell fell LBW for 26 to Lions seamer Chris Moore.
But Forsyth and Edward Newman, who returned to the line-up for Sunday’s match, put the premiers to the sword in an unbeaten partnership of 137, guiding the visitor’s home with 14 overs to spare.
Newman (71no) seems to now have cemented his spot in the Panthers first XI, after mixing it with Second XI cricket last season.
Australian and Victorian fast-bowler James Pattinson made a low key return from injury, not batting nor bowling in either game.
Pattinson, who is looking to break back into the Bushrangers Sheffield Shield side this season, will be better for the run.
Dandenong will host Greenvale Kangaroos at Shepley Oval this Saturday from 11am, and will be favourite to start the season 4-0.
