By Nick Creely
It was a remarkable finish for a remarkable game of cricket down at Mervyn Hughes Oval on Saturday, with Dandenong and Footscray unable to split in an enthralling Twenty20 tie that has shaped the White Ball season.
With 18 runs off the last over for the Panthers to chase down Footscray’s 5/139, it was left arm Dandenong spinner Akshat Buch that hit a crunching six over square leg off Jack Sheppard to tie the game off the final delivery.
Andt it was a game so evenly matched, yet so important in the context of the season.
After Tom Donnell sent the Dogs in to bat, a terrific 45 not out to their gun skipper Dylan Kight lifted the home side to 5/139.
Darren Pattinson (3/33) proved he is still as dynamic as ever with the ball with another eye catching display, while Peter Cassidy (1/9) showed off his skilful white ball wares to peg the runs back.
The Panthers lost gun batsmen Brett Forsyth (4) and Ed Newman (2) early in the run chase, but a 52-run stand between Donnell and Steven Mullaney (45) lifted the Panthers into a position to pounce on the points.
Some middle order wickets meant the game came down to the last over, with Buch’s powerful strike ensuring the Panthers would split the points and maintain its stronghold in the top four.
“It was a good feeling and quite a weird feeling – it was tie, and I didn’t know whether to celebrate,” he said of the six.
“I knew that I wanted to hit it on the square leg boundary, it was where the wind was blowing and it was a short boundary – lucky for me, he put it on a good length and in my slot.
“He bowled a good yorker the ball before, and if he had bowled that again I probably would have struggled, so it was good to get the ball in the slot for me.”
However, on Sunday, the Panthers (6/115) went down to Fitzroy Doncaster (4/119) at Shepley Oval by six wickets, but have still qualified for the White Ball final against Carlton on 21 January because of Buch’s six and Footscray’s loss on Sunday to Geelong.
But for now, it’s time to get stuck into red ball cricket for the first time this season, which Buch is more than looking forward to as his Panthers sit second on the table and ready to pounce before Christmas.
“10 games to start the year (with the white ball) is a lot, and it’s good to get a break from it – with the red ball it’s a bit more relaxed, and everyone’s happy to focus on that now,” he said.
The left arm spinner has enjoyed a terrific start to his Premier Cricket career this season after crossing over from Subbies club Yarraville, taking nine wickets at 26.6 and scoring 65 runs at an average of 65.
Dandenong will face a stern test when they travel to face Monash Tigers, with play to begin at 11am.
