By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Panthers put in the hard yards with the ball and took away the spoils from day one of their Premier Cricket clash with North Melbourne at Junction Oval on Saturday.
After losing the toss and being asked to field, the Panthers toiled away on a wicket with little help, eventually bowling the Roos out for 198, the majority of which came in a late-order flurry from Eric Ghasperidis (105).
With 19 overs left in the day, Panthers openers Daniel Doran (82 off 44 balls) and Tom Donnell (43 off 60 balls) put on 125 before Doran was unluckily dismissed, with Dylan Quirk (5 not out) and Donnell taking the side to 1-135 at stumps.
Acting captain Donnell said the Panthers’ batting efforts had put his side within reach of a win while the bowlers, led by Doran (5-50), Justin Butterfield (3-36) and James Nanopoulos (2-49), did the job.
“I thought getting them out for 198 on a good wicket with a quick outfield was a good effort,” he said. “Dan was just playing normal cricket shots that were there to play, to be honest their bowling was not great.
“He wasn’t slogging or [making] stupid shots. He was a little unlucky, the ball he went out on [was] one of the worst he faced. His innings took the game away from them.”
Donnell added he had enjoyed opening with Doran and getting the box seat to watch his aggressive shot making.
The Panthers could look to press their advantage and possibly chase an outright result when the game resumes this Saturday.
“It will depend on the wicket,” Donnell said. “We need to make up the rest of the runs we need; then if the wicket is flat, we will need to get [more] quick runs. I suppose instead of letting the game taper out there could be the option [to put them back in], then if you get a few wickets you never know.”
Long-serving all-rounder Nanopoulos was also praised for his work as a change bowler, once again taking key wickets and nailing down his end.
“He has taken on new responsibilities with his bowling this season and it has really come on,” Donnell said. “He has become one of our go-to men now.
“We were getting hit around a bit then we put him on against the wind and he bowled 23 overs on the trot before and after the break. He tied up one end and was unlucky not to get a few more wickets.”
Depending on Victoria selections, regular Panthers captain and fast bowler Darren Pattinson could return to the side this Saturday, but Donnell said Pattinson’s appearance would be confirmed later this week.
