By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Panthers made the most of some early luck to record a comfortable victory over Essendon at Windy Hill in Premier Cricket on Saturday.
New Panthers captain Darren Pattinson lost the toss but the home side chose to bat on a lively surface, allowing Pattinson’s bowlers to take control of the match. The Dons fell to 4-15 in the opening stages.
The home side’s start didn’t improve as the innings went on and left-arm quick Justin Butterfield showed he had regained his best form, taking 5-21 from 9.4 overs. Right arm quick James Wilcock was a solid partner, taking 1-15 from five overs.
“Butterfield had a great season two years ago but struggled last year, so it was great to see him back and bowling well,” Pattinson said.
Middle-innings bowlers James Nanopoulos and Steven Mullaney proved they would form an excellent partnership, with both taking wickets and proving difficult to score off.
“They are both similar bowlers, not quick but good at bowling on the spot and with good variations,” Pattinson said. “You could see them bowling in tandem a lot this season.”
Chasing just 104, Panthers all-rounder Dan Doran (37 off 42 balls) got his side off to a flying start. Fellow opener Tom Donnell (29 not out) played the linchpin roll, joining with Mullaney (25 not out) to take the Panthers to victory on 2-105 from 22.3 overs.
Pattinson said he was confident the Panthers would be able to play on Shepley Oval this Sunday as the club had received notice that curation work was expected to resume this week after an industrial dispute between Greater Dandenong Council and its ground staff.
The Panthers play two games this weekend, visiting Prahran on Saturday and then hosting Frankston Peninsula on Sunday at 11am.
ESSENDON v DANDENONG
Essendon 1st innings
B MacRae c Donnell b Butterfield 4
J Dickinson b Wilcock 0
S McNamara c Hocking b Butterfield 3
B Fletcher c Doran b Nanopoulos 16
S Mire c & b Butterfield 1
R Bonney c Doran b Mullaney 11
R Collins b Butterfield 28
M Johnstone lbw Doran 11
S Reid b Mullaney 15
L Cameron not out 0
T Batters lbw Butterfield 0
Sundries 15
Total 104
Overs: 42.4
Fall: 4, 5, 8, 15, 35, 43, 67, 101, 104, 104.
Bowling: J Butterfield 9.4-2-5-21, J Wilcock 5-1-1-15, D Pattinson 8-2-0-20, J Nanopoulos 10-5-1-14. S Mullaney 5-1-2-12, D Doran 5-0-1-17.
Dandenong 1st innings
D Doran c MacRae b Batters 37
T Donnell not out 29
P Sweeney c Collins b Batters 0
S Mullaney not out 25
Sundries 14
Total 2-105
Overs: 22.3
Fall: 75, 75.
Bowling: S Reid 5-0-0-27, L Cameron 7-0-0-38, S Mire 4-0-0-7, T Batters 4-0-2-24, M Johnstone 2.3-0-0-7.
