It is the Bulldogs’ 11th premiership since the dawn of the new century and their fourth in the past five seasons.

The most recent victory was a hard-fought one over Killarney, the reigning premier.

The game was played on Saturday and yesterday at Purnim, with Shand making telling contributions on both days.

On Saturday he came to the wicket with his team in trouble at 8/109 after Killarney paceman Peter Hickey (4/24) and Luke McGennisken (4/52) proved hard to handle.

But Shand was able to guide the Bulldogs through troubled waters and eke out two solid partnerships to get his team to a score of 164.

Man of the match Shand made an invaluable 24, topped only by 31 from veteran Paul Rea and Dan Meade with 29. 

Killarney had to face 23 overs at the end of the day and Shand followed up his efforts with the bat to snag a wicket.

By stumps Killarney had slumped to 3/22 and things only got worse yesterday — the Crabs crashing to 7/37 and the game seemingly gone.

But a late rally by all-rounder Daniel Jones and veteran Brendan McMahon got the Crabs back into contention.

It took something special to break the partnership in the form of a direct hit from Brady Purcell, who had Jones run out for 50.

Shand then grabbed McMahon caught behind soon after for a defiant 22 before finishing the job with his fifth wicket when he dismissed Brayden Buchanan to claim the last Killarney wicket for 123. 

It was Shand’s  eighth premiership with the Bulldogs and that experience meant he knew what needed to be done with both bat and ball.

“I knew if we could hang around for 20 overs or so at the end on Saturday we might be able to get 50 extra runs and get it to 150, which would give us something to bowl to,” Shand said.

“Then with the ball we just had to stay patient and keep it in the right spots and keep the pressure on.

“Kenny Smith did a really good job keeping it tight from one end and runs were pretty hard for them to find.”

Panmure captain Chris Bant said Shand always delivers the goods in big games.

He said Shand’s ability to not give the batsmen balls to score freely from was a key for Panmure.

“He keeps it basic and doesn’t give away four-balls and we are lucky to have five or six blokes who can do the same thing,” Bant said.

“We have 12 good fielders so the pressure is always on the opposition batsmen.

“I thought if we could scramble our way to 160 then we would be a big chance of defending that and that’s how it turned out.

“A lot of times our top order hasn’t fired this year and we have been saved by the blokes down the lower end so I always had confidence they could get us out of trouble.”

Killarney captain Peter Hickey paid tribute to Panmure and their ability to play good finals cricket.

He said winning premierships was nothing new for Panmure and it is a state of mind he wants Killarney to reach.

“It is a bitter pill to take. This time last year we felt a lot different,” Hickey said.

“We let them get away a bit at the end with the bat and that proved to be the difference.

abrady@fairfaxmedia.com.au