By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Panthers needed a big effort from their bowlers and that’s exactly what they got in their win at Geelong on Saturday.
After making just 216 on the first day and having Geelong resume at 3-83, the Panthers lost Australian Test fast bowler James Pattinson to Victorian selection.
But in his place his brother Darren Pattinson and in-form seamer James Nanopoulos took the ball and made sure the Cats were never in the match. T
he Panthers bowled them out for 153 in 51 overs, 22 of which came on the first day. Nanopoulos (4-20 from 16 overs with nine maidens) and Darren Pattinson (1-20 from nine overs) led the way while Justin Butterfield (2-34) was also telling in the win.
The Panthers needed to come back in and bat until tea, which they did. Charith Cooray made 16 as the visitors got to 1-22 before the game was called off.
Panthers vice-captain Tom Donnell said Darren Pattinson and Nanopoulos had led from the front in windy, challenging conditions. “I can’t remember Nanopoulos bowling a bad ball,” he said.
“He bowled all his overs into the wind and took up one end while Darren Pattinson bowled really fast and got us going.
“It was always going to be a tight contest and all the boys knew we needed to start well. All our bowlers stood up and the fielders backed them by taking catches.”
The Panthers face a difficult battle this week when they begin a two-day clash against Ringwood at Shepley Oval this Saturday, with the Rams coming off chasing down 366 against Footscray-Edgewater on Saturday.
“We are going to have to play well as they are in form and sitting in the top four,” Donnell said. “We need to keep winning from here and get as high as we can on the ladder.”
■ In Victorian Sub District Cricket Association play, Endeavour Hills made the most of four run-outs to take a close win from its clash against Mount Waverley at Mount Waverley Reserve on Saturday.
The Eagles were defending 284 and struggled to dismiss Mt Waverley star Navin Perera (94).
But after getting through the top order, the Eagles rode their luck, running out three tail-enders as the home side was bowled out for 266. Shane Peake took 3-73 for the Eagles.
Noble Park lost to Box Hill by 71 runs.
PREMIER CRICKET LADDER: Melbourne 67 points, 1.67 per cent; Prahran 60, 1.41; Ringwood 53, 1.25; Richmond 51, 1.86; St Kilda 51, 1.40; Carlton 49, 1.08; Dandenong 41, 1.38; Melbourne Uni 41, 1.07; Fitzroy Doncaster 38, 1.12; Frankston Peninsula 38, 0.94; Geelong 37, 0.88; Casey-South Melbourne 31, 0.74; Footscray Edgewater 27, 0.92; Camberwell Magpies 27, 0.78; North Melbourne 26, 0.72; Essendon 12, 0.65; Haw-Monash Uni 12, 0.65; Northcote 9, 0.52.
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