By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Panthers vice-captain Tom Donnell believes his side is more than capable of making the Premier Cricket Twenty20 finals after a patchy opening display on Saturday.
The Panthers played two Twenty20 games, against Casey-South Melbourne and Fitzroy-Doncaster, at Morwell as part of Premier Cricket’s Bush Bash, leaving town with a win over the Bloods and a loss to the Lions.
With four Twenty20 matches remaining, Donnell has tipped his side to go on and make the finals, as long as it improves in its next matches.
“We play six Twenty20 matches so we still have a chance,” he said.
“We would probably need to win every game from here on to be sure of making it. I think we are capable enough, we are a good enough side to do that.”
But to win their remaining matches Donnell has called on his side’s batsmen to improve their work and their recognition of each other’s roles.
“We didn’t play great cricket, there is a bit of improvement there in the next couple of matches,” he said. “No one really stood up for us in either game, no one really took control for us and usually we have someone do that.
“The batting was not great over both matches, we need to do a better job of knowing each other’s roles and knowing whether a batsman is out there to go hard from the start or if he is out there to push singles and move the strike around.”
In the win over the Bloods the Panthers bowled first and kept the Bloods to 4-129 with Jake Best making 72 not out before the Panthers got past their total with just two balls left in the match. James Nanopoulos made 36 to lead the Panthers.
In the loss to Fitzroy-Doncaster, the Lions batted first and put up 5-141 in their 20 overs, a total which proved too much for the Panthers who made 7-128 in reply with Donnell making 32 and Nanopoulos 20.
Donnell said the next two Twenty20 matches against Hawthorn-Monash University and Melbourne would be crucial for his side.
■ In the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association, Noble Park faces a massive chase against Plenty Valley when play resumes this Saturday with the Parkers chasing 307.
Endeavour Hills is in a slightly better position having Box Hill 1-3 at stumps chasing its total of 176 all out with Justin Merlino making 54.
The Panthers host Hawthorn-Monash University for a Twenty20 match at Shepley Oval this Saturday at 2.30pm, the Panthers then visit Melbourne for another Twenty20 clash on Sunday at 2.30pm.
