By ROY WARD
A LATE spell from Australian Test fast bowler James Pattinson has given the Dandenong Panthers a slight advantage heading into the second day of their Premier Cricket clash against Geelong at Geelong.
Pattinson took 3-38 in 10 overs when the Panthers finished the first day in the field after being bowled out for 216.
The Cats were 3-83 from 22 overs and need another 134 runs for victory on the second day.
Panthers vice-captain Tom Donnell said his side would have preferred some more runs but was confident it could defend the total.
“It was really a par score. We could have had a few more runs but a few blokes had starts, then didn’t go on to a big score,” he said.
Donnell said Pattinson looked impressive in his spell despite having a few problems with his foot marks during his spell.
He said he hoped the Australian paceman would be allowed to play in the second day of play as the Panthers looked for the remaining seven Cats wickets. “He had a few problems with foot marks in his middle overs and lost a little rhythm through there but he was nice and fast; those wickets kept us in the game.
“If we can get a couple of early wickets we should be in a good spot.”
The Panthers’ batsmen will also need to make more of their opportunities after Steven Mullaney (65), Pattinson (36), James Nanopoulos (33) and Darren Pattinson (25) were all dismissed after making good starts.
“Mullaney looked good for his 65 and I suppose you would say he threw it away by playing one big shot too many,” Donnell said.
“He was a bit disappointed too as he thought he could have made a big score. Over the day we have had bad outs at bad times.”
Depending on who gets selected for the
Victorian Sheffield Shield side, the Panthers could be without James and Darren Pattinson for the second day of play, with the Bushrangers scheduled to be playing South Australia in Adelaide starting on Thursday.
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