After a slow start to the Super Slam, Dandenong Panthers have surged into the final at the MCG

After scraping into the finals, Dandenong Panthers on Sunday were crowned Stars Conference champions of the Victoria Super Slam. Now they’re off to the MCG and Adelaide.

Dandenong coaches Nick Speak (left) and Paul Boraston (right) and the players show off the Stars Conference flag. Pic: Arj Giese, Cricket Victoria.

WHEN Dandenong lost its Round 4 Victorian Super Slam match against Monash Tigers at Central Reserve in early December, its prospects of qualifying for the finals of the inaugural competition seemed slender.

The defeat put the Panthers at 1-3.

And yet ….

On Sunday at the Junction Oval they made off with the Stars Conference title, holding out St Kilda to advance to the grand final against Renegades Conference champion Carlton at the MCG this Sunday.

They also punched their pass to the national play-off in Adelaide in March.

“I’m getting DDC fatigue, handing them cheques and silverware all the time,’’ Premier Cricket manager Mike Ronchi quipped on Sunday night after presenting the club with a flag and $5000.

Dandenong’s Super Slam guest players Karl Carver (left) and Suraj Randiv with coach Nick Speak.

The Panthers’ Super Slam revival began in Round 5 with a thumping win over St Kilda at Shepley Oval. After cracking 6-198, they whipped out the Saints for a sorry 38, champion Darren Pattinson bagging 5-21 off his four overs.

Last Tuesday at Jubilee Park they routed Ringwood, dismissing the Rams for 76 as they chased 8-138.

That lifted them to fourth on the table, displacing Casey South Melbourne Swans, and put them into Sunday’s finals.

In the semi-final they nosed out Prahran True Blues in an extraordinary, enthralling finish.

With one over left the True Blues were eight wickets down needing four runs for victory.

English spinner Karl Carver, one of the Panthers’ two overseas players engaged for the tournament, got them through, knocking over No 10 Sam Cook and No 11 Sam Grimwade.

True Blues skipper Jake Hancock was left stranded on 45 at the other end as his team fell for 132 pursuing 9-133.

“We went from losing the game to finding a way to win it,’’ senior batsman Brett Forsyth said.

“Being able to get it to the last over was the thing.’’

James Nanopoulos paraded his all-round ability with an innings of 32 off 25 balls and a return of 3-23 off four overs.

The final against the Saints was similarly tight and tense.

The Panthers put up 9-140, with captain Tom Donnell cuffing 51 off 38 deliveries, his first half-century of the tournament.

Young Zach Grundmann-Perera (15 off five balls) gave the innings a late burst with two sixes in the 19th over.

Melbourne Star Jon Merlo played two exceptional hands for St Kilda on Sunday.

The Saints’ reply revolved around their Melbourne Star and No 3 Jon Merlo.

His 65 came off 49 balls, included 6 fours and 2 sixes, went with his tidy bowling of 2-22 and followed his innings of 65 not out and 3-22 in the semi against Monash Tigers.

Already a Star, Merlo is a rising star of Victorian cricket.

But when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Carver the Saints were 5-97.

The Panthers closed out it out with Peter Cassidy removing the dangerous Josh Bartlett, two run-outs and a second wicket for Carver (2-20 off four), who answered Saints skipper Michael Beer’s 2-17.

Beer was not out 10 as his side came in adrift at 9-127.

The Panthers’ other guest player, former Sri Lankan Test spinner Suraj Randiv, was to the fore again, his 2-23 giving him 13 wickets for the series.

In what’s being called the Super Slam’s “Grand Slam’’ at the ‘G, the Panthers will meet a star-packed Carlton Blues, whom they swept past in last season’s White Ball final at Princes Park (and also humbled in the championship preliminary final).

The final will raise the curtain to the Melbourne Stars’ match against Brisbane Heat.

Forsyth said it would be a buzz for players from both sides to play on the MCG.

He said it would also bring great exposure to the club.

Before then the Panthers will compete in the Women’s Premier Firsts T20 grand final at the Junction Oval on Wednesday, meeting Essendon Maribyrnong Park starting at 5.15pm.

In what amounted to a dress rehearsal, the teams met on Sunday at Shepley Oval, with EMP taking a 20-run victory.

Sophie Molineux is expected to play for Dandenong in the T20 final on Wednesday night.

But for the final Dandenong is expected to be strengthened by World Cup star Sophie Molineux.

The experienced Chelsea Moscript, rested on Sunday, will also return.

Moscript and captain Emma “Gags’’ Gallagher — Gippslanders both — were earlier in the month selected for the Australian Country team following the national championships.

Ireland players Laura Delany and Kim Garth will also turn out for Dandy, who have made great strides under new coach Andy Christie this season.

“We’re excited about the final, but just as excited about what our group of players can do in the next few years,’’ Gallagher said this morning.