By ROY WARD
ONE ball rarely changes a two-innings cricket match, but in Twenty20 a single delivery can have a devastating effect.
Dandenong opening bowler Justin Butterfield’s first ball in Hawthorn-Monash University’s run chase of 123 at Shepley Oval on Saturday is a prime example of what one delivery can do.
Butterfield (2-14) tore through Hawks opener Lachie Inglis’ guard to rattle his stumps and the impact of the wicket proved significant as the Hawks never recovered, being bowled out for 62 in 15.4 overs and 60 minutes.
Butterfield also snared Inglis’ opening partner William Tavare later in the opening over while at the other end James Wilcock bowled Radhik Gooneratne in his first over to leave the Hawks at 3-1.
While Hawks captain David Alleyne (13) and Rob Keogh (17) showed a hint of a recovery the pair were both dismissed and the Hawks’ lower order and tail barely raised a whimper to be bowled out.
All-rounder James Nanopoulos (2-11) and leg-spinner Daniel Doran (2-17) played their roles later in the innings while two run-outs added to the visitors’ misery.
Earlier in the day the Panthers had their struggles with the bat, falling to 3-12 before Nanopoulos (34 off 28) came to the crease, while some later hitting by Michael Sweeney (28 off 22) in the final over took their total to 8-123. Panthers captain Tom Donnell said his side had done well to arrest the momentum in the match after failing to take control when batting first.
He said Butterfield’s wicket was the perfect start to the innings.
“Momentum in Twenty20 cricket is pretty important,” Donnell said. ”I think that first ball gave us momentum, especially coming off the last over of our innings where we batted well. They had the momentum going into their innings and that first wicket swung it our way.”
Donnell said his bowlers were exceptional on the day but the Panthers’ batsmen had to improve. “Our bowlers were fantastic,” he said. “Butters [Butterfield] was pretty fired up, he bowled well early and he has bowled well this year.”
Alleyne said his side had failed to fight back from its early struggles.
“At the halfway stage we were in a brilliant position,” he said. “But losing wickets at the top of the order compounded our efforts and then we didn’t show any steel or belief that the game was winnable.
“Losing those early wickets lost the wind from our sails. With the younger guys it’s more not counterpunching and instead reacting. We will learn from this situation.”
The Panthers played Melbourne in a Twenty20 match yesterday with the match finishing after the Journal went to print.
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