By Nick Creely
VIC PREMIER CRICKET REVIEW – ROUND 15 (DAY 2)
James Pattinson is most likely going to be sleeping with his phone very close to his ears, because after Saturday’s extraordinary and match-winning performance, the Victorian selectors may have little choice but to recall the star Panther.
After lifting the Panthers to an ominous 361 last week, after he crafted a second century of the season, the fast-bowler and his teammates were under a lot of heat when Melbourne skipped out to 3/212, with Seb Gotch, Merrick Buchanan and Blake Thompson threatening to take the game away.
Early on in the day, Pattinson snared the first two wickets of Matt Brown (15), caught behind off the sure hands of Tommy Donnell at slips, before trapping Peter Petricola LBW for 17. Gotch (68) and Buchanan (81) dug in for the visitors, playing gutsy knocks despite constant pressure applied by not only Pattinson, but a raft of other bowlers.
But with passion, gusto and plenty of extreme pace, Pattinson tore the Demons to shreds, at some stages almost literally, as the opposition meekly fell away, bowled out for 243 – a 7/31 collapse.
His other victims, Seb Gotch, Andrew Kent, Jackson Koop and Patrick Smith all looked second-rate, with Patto bringing out his usual trademark celebration.
Pattinson finished with figures of 6/43 from 14 overs, but more importantly, never lost his rhythm and found that old mojo once again.
Panthers skipper Tom Donnell was pleased with his sides fight, and conceded that despite Pattinson looming as a large presence around the club, they have to learn to play without him going forward.
“It was a really hard fought win really – it was tough going and set-up by our batting in week one – 360 gave our bowlers a great target to bowl at,” he said.
“They had two batsman in set, Buchanan and Gotch batted well and we had a couple of chances not given – we just kept on fighting and we were lucky enough to have Patto do what he does – he just tore through them – that really was the changing point in the game, he is a class above.
“He had 15 overs on Saturday, and was still steaming in and trying his guts out from his first over to his last – he is looking really fit and strong and bowling very fast – hopefully he holds together, because it won’t be long until he’s back around the national side.
“We’ve spoken as a group and said that we can’t always rely on him getting the job done, which is pretty hard considering he is playing so well – we are aware we probably won’t have him again this season, but it gives other blokes a chance to stand up which is good.”
The vitally important victory leaves the Panthers comfortably inside the top four.
Others to impress for the Panthers were newcomer Patrick Turner (2/45) and the ever-reliable James Nanopoulos (1/47).
Donnell said that Turner was an exciting prospect with a great future at the club.
“Patty is just a young guy, a really big and strong quick bowler – he showed glimpses that he’s going to be a great bowler for us – he’s only young and performed well, he actually got the wicket that got us going,” he said.
Dandenong will host the struggling Frankston Peninsula next week.
