IT is halfway through the Women’s Premier 1sts competition, so over the next week we are taking a look at where all the teams are sitting as we head into the back half of the season. Today’s focus is on the reigning champions Dandenong Panthers.

The season thus far

Unfortunately, like everyone else, rain got in the way of Dandenong’s opening weekend match of the season, but the Panthers did eventually get their season off to the best possible start. They beat Plenty Valley convincingly enough to earn themselves a bonus point.

Unfortunately for the Panthers they were not able to back it up the following weekend, losing to Essendon Maribyrnong Park. They then lost to Melbourne and Carlton before turning things around in the final match pre-Christmas, beating Box Hill.

Who’s played well?

From a batting perspective, Tiana Atkinson tops the table. Although she has had a bit of an up-and-down season with the bat, at her best she’s proven she is a star and can hit the big scores.In three matches so far this season, she has hit 117 runs at an average of 58.5, and with a strike rate of 77.

Next on the list is Victorian keeper Nicole Faltum. When she has not been off with the Victorian or Melbourne Stars sides, she’s certainly been helping Dandenong out with the bat. She has hit 87 runs so far this season with an average of 43.5 and a strike rate of 82.9 per cent. Rounding out the top five batters with the most runs is Sophie Strickland, Evie Stansby and Uvindee Wijesena.

The two best bowlers so far this season are Chelsea Moscript and Emma Gallagher. Both have taken eight wickets, but Moscript comes out on top due to a lower average and strike rate. Gallagher’s economy rate is slightly better though. Moscript’s best figures this season are 3/25, while Gallagher’s are 2/18. Rounding out the top five best bowlers so far this season for the Panthers is Wijesena, Cassie Stephens and Julie Fearns.

The rest of the season ahead

Dandenong is currently sitting much further down the ladder then the Panthers probably want to be as they try and go for back-to-back titles. They currently sit in fifth on the ladder, which is one place out of the finals, so they will need to kick things into gear, and fast.

The next month of matches is an interesting bunch. They have Ringwood twice, as well as Plenty Valley and Prahran.

The Plenty Valley game is definitely a winnable, and quite frankly a must-win match. The way things are going for Plenty Valley this year means Dandenong will go into that match as favourites.

Although they have not played Prahran yet this season, the way Prahran are going this year means that game is certainly winnable for the Panthers too.

That just leaves the two games against the Rams. These matches could go either way. Although Ringwood is currently sitting third, the Rams have had a bit of an up-and-down season in terms of results.

If Dandenong wants to be a contender again this season, it is going to have to win at least two of those matches in the next month, maybe even more.