Carlton wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman hits a return catch to Clive Rose and watches as the Australian under-19 star celebrates his dismissal at Casey Fields on Saturday.By Marc McGowan
CASEY-South Melbourne was given a “lesson” in professionalism in its humbling 203-run one-day loss to ladder leader Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday.
The heavy defeat ended a promising run of form for the Swans and reminded them they still have a long way to go to challenge Victorian Premier Cricket’s elite.
In further bad news for Casey-South Melbourne, all-rounder Brett Watkins broke his left ankle chasing down a ball near the boundary.
It is the same ankle on which he had previously had reconstructive surgery, and it will likely sideline him for the rest of the season.
Coming off a club record score of 328 the previous round, the Blues jumped out of the blocks courtesy of 2005-06 Ryder Medallist Michael Allen (128 runs off 130 balls, 15 fours and two sixes) and explosive opener Evan Gulbis (20 off 17).
Their union ended on 46 and brilliant Swans youngster Clive Rose (2/25 from 10 overs) restricted them further when he caught wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman off his own bowling to make it 2/51.
It proved to be the last time Casey-South Melbourne was in the contest.
Allen, who was almost caught behind without scoring, and new batsman Jeremy Brown (89 off 94, nine fours and one six) firstly consolidated before pummelling the Swans’ bowlers.
The usually reliable Matthew Hawking and Lukas Hoogenboom were belted out of the attack, with only the economical Rose withstanding the onslaught.
Finally Brown was dismissed in the 40th over off the bowling of part-time off-spinner Craig Entwistle, but at 3/232 he had helped set the foundation for a withering finish.
And Carlton did not disappoint, belting 86 runs off the last 10 overs to go close to rewriting the record books for the second week running.
Despite the beating its bowlers had taken, Casey-South Melbourne was still confident it could continue its form and chase down the Blues’ 6/318.
In reply, Tim Dale got off the mark with a six in the first over, but he hit out once too often and nicked the ball to Ludeman to be Andrew Dickinson’s (2/22 from eight overs) first scalp.
It brought the white-hot Chris Benham to the wicket and the Swans were desperate for another of his sublime innings – particularly after Max Wakefield was also caught behind.
Benham looked in promising form on his way to 18 before becoming the first of Carlton’s two run-out victims.
He blasted the ball through the field and set off for a run, only for Michael Sheedy to make a great diving stop and fire a throw into Ludeman, who removed the bails with Benham short of his crease.
Then Gulbis’ direct hit sent captain Michael Hansen back to the pavilion to have Casey-South Melbourne struggling at 4/37.
Last season’s Victorian Premier Cricket team of the year selection Entwistle (52 off 55) dug in, but his team-mates crumbled around him and the Swans were eventually out for 115.
Hansen struggled to comprehend the woeful display after his squad had looked to have turned the corner.
“It was pretty bad given our last month and a half had been pretty good,” he said.
“It was disappointing bowling-wise that we pretty much got hit around … they showed us how to bat.
“They were only two (wickets) down at drinks and in the last 20 overs they hit the ball as far as they liked.”
Hansen hailed Carlton’s sharp performance and earmarked a possible visit to Princes Park to watch the Blues train.
“It was a good lesson to watch Carlton and the way they prepared for the game, from 10 minutes before the game to the way they finished off,” he said.
“I’ll have a chat to Hayesy (Casey-South Melbourne head coach John Hayes) because I’m keen to go and watch Carlton train to see the way they go about it.”
The Swans battle St Kilda in a one-day match at Junction Oval on Saturday from 11am.
