By Nick Creely
AROUND THE GROUNDS
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
QUALIFYING FINALS
Dandenong skipper Tom Donnell is simply built for finals.
Unassuming on and off the field, the Panthers skipper is a player that simply wants to let his game do the talking.
Despite Carlton advancing through to a preliminary final after blunting the Panthers and playing out a draw over the weekend, it was performance to savour for the skipper down at Princes Park.
The Blues elected to bowl, sending Donnell and his long term partner in crime, Brett Forsyth, out to face the music early.
The pair – as they do so often – crossed yet another 50-run stand, before Evan Gulbis (2/56) captured the huge breakthrough to get one through the gates of Forsyth.
Cam Forsyth took his time to get going, facing 60 balls before also succumbing to a fired-up Gulbis, bringing Donnell and Comrey Edgeworth to the crease together.
Donnell was just sublime, crunching anything in his zone while also being typically steady in defence, while Edgeworth (69) showed glimpses of why he’s set to be a top-quality Premier cricketer for years to come, and the pair swiftly added 162 for the third wicket, with the skipper raising a century – his 11th in the first XI – to get the Panthers into a formidable position.
Continuing on with stunning momentum after crossing the three figures, Donnell was almost impossible to remove, but eventually was caught after amassing 152 off 256 balls, a knock featuring 16 fours and a maximum.
Donnell’s wicket – at 5/277 – did bring about the undoing for the Panthers, with the Blues rallying to bowl the visitors out for 299 off 89 overs, placing the onus on Donnell’s group to find the 10 wickets required.
While early on day two the intention of the Blues was to race down the runs, an incredible rear-guard through the day made life difficult for the Panthers.
Destructive opener Brayden Stepien (83) was electric early, crashing them to all parts to bring up another half-century in what has been a golden year, but when he was removed after being trapped LBW by James Nanopoulos (2/55), the gears were changed permanently.
Known usually as an aggressive player, Blues opener Tom Smyth batted all day to finish on an incredible 67 not out off 288 balls, with the home side shutting up shop and playing for the draw, which essentially is as good as a win as they finished higher on the table.
Smyth combined superbly with Harry Smyth (8 off 64), Nick Ross (25 off 83) and eventually skipper Evan Gulbis (31 off 52) to completely take the game away from the Panthers, who worked overtime to get the game on their terms to no avail.
Aside from Nanopoulos, Peter Cassidy (1/38 off 25 overs) was impressive, but in some sour news, James Wilcock will miss the rest of the season after injuring his hamstring during his fifth over.
The Panthers do get another chance after finishing in the top four, and take on Fitzroy-Doncaster in a semi-final this weekend.
In the other Premier Cricket matches over the weekend, Geelong (273) surprised Essendon (211) at Windy Hill to advance through to a preliminary final, Fitzroy Doncaster (9/220) knocked off Camberwell (219) in a thrilling elimination final at Schramms Reserve, while Monash Tigers (275) ended St Kilda’s (154) season at Casey Fields.
In the fourths, meanwhile, Dandenong’s season came to an end at the hands of Essendon at Walter Galt Reserve. The Bombers racked up 281, with the Panthers bowled out for 202 despite a bright start.
MPCA – PROVINCIAL
SEMI-FINALS
Langwarrin is into another MPCA grand final after knocking over Baxter at Lloyd Park over the weekend.
The Kangaroos set 164 for victory after Chamika Sattambi (8/47) stole the show with a truly brilliant display, but the home side rallied with the ball on day two to dismiss the visitors for just 130, with Mal Coutts the star with 5/16 off 11 overs.
The Kangaroos will face off with Sorrento after they escape with an incredible win over Peninsula OB.
VICTORIAN SUB-DISTRICT – NORTH EAST
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Noble Park is through to the North/East subbies grand final after a tremendous performance against Mt Waverley at Pat Wright Oval.
The Parkers were simply unbelievable over the weekend, controlling the game from start to finish, largely through the efforts of off-spinner Kalhath Arachige.
Arachige bowled right through the innings after the Mounties won the toss and electing to bat, snaring the incredible figure off 7-45 off 33.5 overs, including 16 maidens as the visitors rolled over for a measly 117.
The home side were untroubled in their chase, losing just the single wicket to find the runs in just over 50 overs, with Paul Hill (47) and skipper Luke Wintle (42) seeing them to victory.
They will host Plenty Valley at home in this weekend’s decider, after they belted Brunswick at A.G Gillon Oval.
