By ROY WARD
DON’T write off Dandenong Panthers from the Premier Cricket title race and don’t write off skipper Darren Pattinson either.
Panthers import Steven Mullaney made 65 not out to steer his side to an outright victory over Richmond at Shepley Oval on Saturday.
The outright result, which looked like it could be a reverse outright when the Panthers fell to 5-45 chasing 107, moved the Panthers from 10th place at the start of the round to fourth position and a home quarter-final this weekend when they host St Kilda at Shepley Oval. Pattinson pulled his hamstring while bowling but believes he will be fit enough to play against the Saints.
The Panthers started the day needing just under 50 runs to get first innings points and they scored them with ease with vice-captain Tom Donnell getting to 88 not out when the home side declared on 1-151.
The Tigers, who still held an outside hope of snatching the reverse outright and possibility moving into the top eight, pressed for runs but were soon in trouble on 2-22.
Panthers bowlers Justin Butterfield (5-33) and James Nanopoulos (3-20) kept getting wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 138 from 33 overs, leaving the Panthers just 107 for the win.
Yet returning Tigers captain Allan Wise (2-20) took two early scalps as the Panthers fell to 5-47 before Mullaney and Nanopoulos (18 not out) made sure their side came out on top with Mullaney hitting 14 runs from three balls in what turned out to be the penultimate over of the match.
Pattinson said his side had shown its quality when it mattered most.
“Getting the outright is obviously huge for us, especially when it takes us to fourth place,” he said.
