Casey-South Melbourne players, from left, Lukas Hoogenboom, Robbie Elston, Stephen Nicholls, Roger Sillence (obscured), Marc Ferne, Matthew Hawking, Nathan Bird, Craig Entwistle and Joel Leaver leave the field after their one-run victory over Hawthorn-Monash University with a mixture of elation and relief.By Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne recorded an exhilarating one-run victory against Hawthorn-Monash University in Victorian Premier Cricket action at Casey Fields on Saturday.
It was the Swans’ final competition match before playing a ‘ranking’ game starting this weekend against Melbourne University at Casey Fields to complete its first season at its new ground.
The Hawks resumed at 4/73 in pursuit of Casey-South Melbourne’s less-than-intimidating total of 188.
The Swans bowlers went to work immediately and made early inroads in Hawthorn-Monash University’s run chase.
Resurgent veteran Matthew Hawking (2/61 off 29 overs) struck the first blows and found himself on a hat-trick after removing Alistair Michener (7) and Cameron Doherty (0) in his 14th over.
Then when Casey-South Melbourne captain-coach Roger Sillence (3/63 off 32 overs) and gun all-rounder Lucas van Raay (3/30 off 23.2 overs) pocketed a wicket each, the Hawks were stumbling at 8/116.
It left defiant Hawthorn-Monash University captain Simon Dart (77 from 231 balls) and former Swans off-spinner Brendan Meagher (30) at the crease.
The pair set about frustrating the Casey-South Melbourne attack for the next 90 minutes while amassing 47 runs from 137 balls.
Hawking’s persistence was finally rewarded when Dart hit the ball straight to van Raay after fending one off his legs.
At 9/163, the Hawks were still staring down the barrel, but number 11 Darren Kimberley joined Meagher at the crease and had no intention of rolling over.
With plenty of time left in the match, the Hawthorn-Monash University tail-enders continued to graft away at the target and with single-figure runs required seemed to have the slight advantage.
The Swans had no shortage of shouts, but were continually turned down by the umpires and tempers began to flare.
Sillence inserted himself into the attack and the fiery Englishman bellowed several expletives each time the duo held out his best efforts.
After one such delivery, the Worcestershire all-rounder fired the ball straight over the batsman’s head into wicketkeeper Robbie Elston’s gloves.
The action drew an indifferent response from the Hawks players and a bit of verbal warfare ensued between Sillence and his off-field combatants.
It was the local captain who had the last laugh, however, when in the next over van Raay highlighted his importance to the side by drawing an edge from Meagher that was sensationally caught by a diving Elston.
The Casey-South Melbourne players rejoiced as if they had won the grand final, but deserved the celebrations after such a hard-fought victory and for enduring such a tough season bereft of success.
Sillence, who played his final match of the season before heading off for County duties in England, was pleased to end his season on a high.
“It was good to get the result. It’s obviously fantastic for the lads and gives them something they can work with over the winter and some incentive for the pre-season,” he said.
Sillence is hoping Elston’s catch will put his team on track for a better performance next season.
“The boys have worked so hard all season to get a win in the two-day stuff and to finally do it is a good reward for us,” he said.
“Hopefully, it will snowball over winter and onto the pre-season next year.”
