DANDENONG Panthers almost turned a poor start into an outright win against Northcote in Premier Cricket on Saturday.
The Dragons started play chasing the Panthers’ ominous first day total of 3-388 and got to 0-46 before Panthers all-rounder James Nanopoulos (5-24) took the first of his wickets, which triggered a major collapse as the visitors were bowled out for just 100.
The Dragons’ day was made even tougher with only 10 batsmen in the first innings due to an injury to captain Tim Monteleone, who didn’t bat but was padded up in the second innings in case he was needed to stop the outright loss.
The Panthers pressured the Dragons at every turn of their second innings and when Nathan Lumden had Dylan Grandell caught on a juggled catch at gully late in the day, the home side needed two wickets from the final three overs.
Despite a few half chances the Dragons held strong, leaving the Panthers to contentedly settle for a first-innings win at Shepley Oval as the Dragons finished play on 8-132 in their second innings.
Panthers captain Tom Donnell said his side was close to taking full points and earning a rare achievement of bowling a side out twice in the one day. “I was happy with the win, very happy with it,” he said.
“With 26 overs to go we needed five wickets and felt we were a chance, then we needed a couple of wickets with a few overs left and were still a chance.
“We had that lbw appeal off Nano which I thought was pretty close.
“But they held on well and it’s always tough to get an outright victory when the wicket is flattening out and the ball is old.”
Donnell praised his bowlers, with Nanopoulos, Steven Mullaney and leg-spinner Daniel Doran taking the lion’s share of the wickets. “We have a good mixture with a left-armer in Justin Butterfield, then the medium pacers in Nano and Mullaney and a leg-spinner in Doran so it’s all coming together nicely.”
The Panthers face Camberwell in a one-day game this Saturday with Premier Cricket’s Christmas break to follow.
Donnell said it was vital his side took a win over the Magpies as they aimed to make the one-day finals.
“If we win our next couple of one-dayers then we are a fair chance for the one-day finals,” he said.
All Dandenong District Cricket Association turf matches and Victorian Sub District Cricket Association matches were cancelled on Saturday due to the previous day’s rain. —Roy Ward
