For the second year in a row the Panthers have come through the pack to mug pre-game favourite and minor premiers Black Stars to win the Mount Isa 40 over cricket premiership.
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The key to the second of their back-to-back successes was their tight bowling which restricted the dangerous Black Stars batters to an achievable total they went past late on a fly-blown cloudy Mount Isa evening.
That was despite losing the toss meaning the Starries had first use of the Sunset Oval.
When opener Trent Cameron was dismissed was just one run off the bowling of Burri it was clear that the Panthers had come to play.
Andy Cullis and Scott Kyle steadied the ship somewhat to take the score to 66 runs before Panthers skipper Matthew Birchley struck a triple blow into the heart of the Black Stars first dismissing Kyle for 29 then Conlan for a duck and finally Cullis for 35.
The Starries had suddenly slumped from 1/66 to 4/69 and momentum was pink.
Ben Spooner inched his way to 25 with a patient innings but it was brought to an end by Ryan, Jamie Stewart could only make 12 and when another potential dangerman Ash Benson was dismissed by McKormack, also for 25, the skids were seriously on.
In the end the Starries were skittled for 151, with three wickets apiece for Burri and Birchley.
Getting the required runs was far from easy and when Clark fell to Hill for 15 and fellow opener Macpherson went for 17 to Conlan it was 2/40 and anyone's game.
Skipper Birchley and Bond pushed the score on to 72 before Bond fell to Conlon for 21.
Birchley made a handy 29 before going LBW to Spooner.
A couple of fours from Genocky (19) and two big sixes from Morrison (22) put the total within reach and Ryan (11 no) and Burri (7 no) brought it in to win by four wickets.
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