Casey-South Melbourne gloveman Robbie Elston carved out a determined 75 against North Melbourne at Casey Fields on the weekend. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan
A DEPLETED attack and a Darren Dempsey century consigned Casey-South Melbourne to a six-wicket Victorian Premier Cricket defeat to North Melbourne at Casey Fields on the weekend.
The Swans were missing strike bowler Lukas Hoogenboom (suspension), left-arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose (under-19 national duties) and teenage leg-spinner Aaron Daniel (virus).
On top of their absences, all-rounder and second-leading wicket-taker Tim Dale – in his first game back from an ankle injury – was still unable to bowl to his full capabilities.
It left Casey-South Melbourne relying on mediocre Englishman Richard Lewis and Daniel Streker.
Medium-pacer Streker batted at number nine and bowled just four overs to underline the lack of depth at the club.
The game was played over Saturday and Sunday, and the Swans made a bright enough start, with English bladesman Chris Benham (107 runs off 120 balls, 15 fours and two sixes) slashing his second century of the summer.
Benham’s effort took his season tally to a team-best 626 runs at an average of 41.73.
With the in-form Robbie Elston (75 off 170, eight fours) and second-gamer Jake Best (30 off 93) providing good support, Casey-South Melbourne managed 283.
Kangaroo Adam Di Giacomo (5/67 from 24.5 overs) snared the innings’ final three scalps to record a five-wicket haul.
With the lack of variety in the bowling, the Swans needed early wickets and veteran Matthew Hawking and all-rounder Luke van Raay (2/64 from 21 overs) claimed a wicket apiece to have North Melbourne struggling at 2/41.
But it was hard work from there, with former South Australian first-class batsman Dempsey (112 not out off 157, 10 fours and two sixes) in typically ominous form.
He and Dale McDonald (50 off 96, seven fours and one six) produced an 87-run union that put the Kangaroos in control.
McDonald departed on 128, but former Victorian under-19 player Daniel Salpietro (56 off 73, eight fours) picked up the slack, recording his second consecutive half-century.
By the time Salpietro was dismissed, North Melbourne had the game in its keeping at 4/243, and Gene Maurice helped Dempsey compile the remaining runs for victory.
The Kangaroos’ win was their first in the two-day format this season and keeps them in hunt for the finals due to their seven successes in one-day mode.
But for Casey-South Melbourne captain Michael Hansen, it is back to the drawing board.
“On Saturday night I wasn’t too concerned,” he said.
“I was hoping to bat another 15 to 20 overs on Sunday and score around 310 to set up a nice run chase because they needed to win to have any chance of making the finals,” he said.
“We probably fell 20-odd runs short of what we needed.
“In the first session we bowled well to the field, but we just didn’t have enough firepower to breakthrough.”
Hansen said he had not played in a side with a weaker bowling attack in his time in Victorian Premier Cricket.
“At this stage of the season, given all the first XI players we have out, people are getting opportunities and are doing the best they possibly can to fill the gaps,” he said.
The Swans are back in action against Geelong at Casey Fields from 11am on Saturday.
