Win for aggressive Swans

Michael Wallace defends to the off side during his patient 48. Picture: NICK CREELY 176055_20

By Nick Creely

AROUND THE GROUNDS

VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
ROUND 11
Winning builds confidence, and for Casey-South Melbourne that confidence is beginning to once again re-emerge just before the red ball stuff gets underway this season.
In Saturday’s 111-run win over Kingston Hawthorn at Walter Galt Reserve, the Swans found that aggressive edge, the component of their game that unsettled teams last year.
Sent in by Hawks skipper James Miller, opening batsmen Michael Wallace (48) and Devin Pollock (43) got the visitors off to a steady start, with Pollock in particular playing some textbook cover drives that raced along to the boundary.
The pair guarded the middle order perfectly, rotating the strike with constant quick singles and putting away the balls that strayed off a good length.
When Pollock spoon-feed a catch to Tyrone Kane at mid-off, the Swans were 1/79, and in a position to make a match-winning total.
Wallace was then deceived by a clever piece of spin bowling by Yasiru Herath (1/31) to claim a vital wicket, with the score on 2/107.
But returning from injury, skipper Lachlan Sperling (51 off 51 balls) and aggressive middle order batsman Jordan Wyatt (21) crunched the boundaries to slam on a quick 51 run partnership, with Sperling in particular launching three massive sixes off the slower bowlers.
Wyatt and Sperling were eventually dismissed – both bowled by some clever deliveries by Javed Khan (2/40) and Miller (3/45) – but it was Ryan Eaton (35) who then slammed on the advantage to guide the Swans to a strong 9/240 off 50 overs.
Brendan Rose (20) also chimed in with a handy knock, in a solid team performance with the bat.
Nathan Lambden (3/28) and Jackson Fry (2/29) used the new ball like class bowlers should, dismissing dangerous pair Ram Prathap Kumar (8) and Shorye Chopra (6) to leave the home side behind the eight ball at 2/23.
Swans’ 16-year-old spinner Jonah Serong then provided an even more exciting glimpse into his rare talent, taking an incredible 5/29 off 10 overs as the Hawks faltered for 129.
Sperling was full of praise for his side, and in particular Serong, who helped get the Swans off the bottom of the ladder.
“We had 11 contributors throughout the day, so that was probably the most pleasing thing from the victory,” he said.
“Lambden, Fry, Serong and Rosey (Brendan Rose) all bowled really well – Rosey didn’t quite get the rewards, but he bowled to a plan and built pressure from the other end.
“Jonah was just fantastic – we know we can just throw him the ball and he’ll put it in the right areas – the improvement every week in his match awareness is enormous.”
Sperling said the start of the batting innings was crucial in the end, with Pollock and Wallace giving the Swans a tailor made start.
“They (Wallace and Pollock) got us off to a pretty good start, it wasn’t a flying start, but we kept wickets in the shed which meant we could take more risks from probably around the 35 over mark,” he said.
“It definitely gave us a decent platform to have a real crack in the last 15 overs.”
The skipper finally returned from injury, and was pleased just to be able to contribute to the strong win.
“It was just good to be back out there and playing, and it was nice to contribute personally, but getting the victory was the main thing,” he said.
“It was one of those weeks because of the weather that I didn’t have much of a hit, so I went in with a really fresh mind, and it sort of paid off, and it helped with Wal and Dev getting off to a good start.”
The Swans host Melbourne in the first two dayer of the season at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dandenong defeated Monash Tigers down at Central Reserve, with the present and future combining brilliantly for the Panthers.
The decision to bowl was quickly vindicated for Dandenong after Adam McMaster found Adam Amin’s (0) edge to give skipper Tom Donnell a catch off the third ball of the match.
Experienced pair Dan Sartori (20) and Andrew Chalkey (28) weathered the storm and poked the ball around to put on 48 runs, but impressive seamer Peter Cassidy got through the gate of Sartori to swing the momentum back.
The Tigers lost Chalkey not long after, and scrambled their way to 6/110 despite some impressive spells by James Nanopoulos (2/18), Akshat Buch (1/35) and Cassidy (1/28) towards the final leg of the innings.
Some late, lusty hitting by Tigers’ pair Sam Mills (51 not out) and Andrew Humphries (34 not out) saw the home side rack up another 85 runs in quick time – including 28 of the final two overs – to finish on 6/195 off their 50 overs.
Before anyone could blink an eye, the Panthers lost prized opening batsman Brett Forysth (5) early in the piece after some clever bowling by Sean Griffin (2/35), before the promoted Buch (0) spoon-fed a catch to mid-off to gift the Tigers a perfect start.
At 2/11, prominent young seconds batsman Comrey Edgeworth strode to the crease to greet his champion captain Tom Donnell in his second first XI appearance for the season, and first and foremost, consolidate after an underwhelming start.
The pair started slowly, with Donnell more of the aggressor, but Edgeworth showed composure beyond his years to stave off the new ball.
The pair put on 136 runs, with Donnell contributing 84 off 126 balls and Edgeworth knocking up 55 – his maiden first XI half century.
And the Tigers couldn’t force their way back in the game, with Lincoln Edwards (29 not out) guiding the visitors home with six wickets left to spare.
Tom Donnell’s in-form side will return to Shepley Oval on Saturday, with the first two dayer of the season against Camberwell Magpies.
WARRAGUL DISTRICT
ROUND 7
Drouin survived a spirited Yarragon run chase, with the Hawks holding on by 10 runs at Dowton Park on Saturday.
The Hawks had a bat first, and notched up a solid total of 5/169 off 40 overs, with John Perry (42) and Trevor Gardiner (32) playing strong hands in the middle order.
The Panthers left no stone unturned, and despite losing two early wickets, star pair Ishan Ratnayake (69) and Gamini Kumara (60) put on an aggressive 118-run partnership, but fell just short on 6/159 after Mitch Goodwin (4/28) took some vital late scalps.
Down at Logan Park, Western Park had very little trouble chasing down Hallora’s 120, with the Warriors winning five wickets down.
The ‘Roos crawled their way to the modest first innings total after strong bowling efforts by Dave Burn (3/29), Tyler McDonald (2/19), Joel Batson (2/21) and Sam Batson (1/25).
Star bat Matthew Wakefield (65) then helped get the Warriors over the line in just 21 overs.
Buln Buln (4/100) also won its clash with Longwarry (8/96), while Ellinbank had the bye.
WOMEN’S PREMIER CRICKET
TWENTY 20 – ROUND 3
A complete performance by Dandenong at Greaves Reserve against Coburg on Sunday has the Panthers in a strong position in the Twenty20 competition.
A terrific 66 not out to Panthers opener Joanne van der Veen saw the home side rack up an imposing 4/143, before some brilliance with the ball by Chelsea Moscript (4/12) restricted Coburg to 9/51.
The Panthers sit top of the table in the Twenty20’s to date, and face Prahran at Toorak Park on Sunday.
MPCA – PROVINCIAL
ROUND 7 (DAY ONE)
Pearcedale and Crib Point are evenly poised after day one’s action, with the Panthers taking a late Magpie wicket.
The Panthers could only muster up 160 in 76 overs, with Shayne Gillings (33) and Kaine Smith (30) helping rescue the visitors after being 5/60 at one stage.
Chris Dew (1/0) managed to pick up the wicket of Thomas Pengelly – caught off Smith – in the last four overs, to leave the Magpies 1/0 at stumps, and needing a further 161 on day two.
SUBBIES – SOUTH/EAST
ROUND 6
Endeavour Hills pulled off a terrific upset victory, with the Eagles knocking off Malvern in a Saturday/Sunday match.
The Roosters elected to bat at home on Saturday, and compiled 9/182 (dec), with club coach Richard Saniga (4/48 off 26 overs) winding back the clock with a brilliant display with the ball.
The 50-year-old then struck a glorious 90 off 136 balls, while Ben Law made 75, as the Eagles chased down the runs in 70 overs and with seven wickets still left in the shed.
Noble Park (7/161), meanwhile, almost won outright over Balwyn (89 and 7/100) at Gordon Barnard Reserve.
The Parkers were in strong touch as they continue their good form.