Dandenong recruit Tom Hussey was in great form on the weekend, with knocks of 63 and 32 in Casey-South Melbourne’s two defeats. 23544 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne coach Mark Ridgway says his side “lost the unlosable” on Saturday before succumbing again on Sunday to remain winless through three rounds.
The Swans had Northcote at their mercy several times in Saturday’s Victorian Premier Cricket encounter at Casey Fields, but failed to take their chances, losing by two runs in a nail-biting finish.
Casey-South Melbourne’s much-vaunted bowling attack restricted Northcote to 5-106 in the 31st over before Dragons pair Travis Gloury (61 runs off 68 balls, three fours, one six) and Nathan Allen (46 off 53, four fours) changed the direction of the contest.
Their 105-run partnership came off just 112 balls and helped Northcote score 221 – thanks to 84 runs off its final 10 overs.
Jayde Herrick (2/43 from 10 overs) was the best of the Swans’ bowlers, while Ash Perera (1/32 from 10) – despite nine wides – and Clive Rose (1/33 from 10) also impressed.
But two horrendous shots from Tim Dale off the first two balls of Casey-South Melbourne’s innings – the second of which resulted in his dismissal – gave the hosts a terrible start.
Recruit Ben Stallworthy was also out cheaply soon after, leaving the Swans teetering at 2/11 and facing another demoralising defeat after Geelong embarrassed them the previous weekend.
But Tom Hussey (63 off 103, seven fours, one six) and Michael Hansen (62 off 96, seven fours) righted the ship after surviving a few shaky moments when they first came to the crease.
They combined for 110 runs off 171 balls and looked set to deliver Ridgway his first triumph at his new club.
Enter 18-year-old debutant Daniel O’Shea (3/44 from 10).
The left-arm orthodox spinner removed both batsmen and added captain Craig Entwistle’s scalp for good measure as Casey-South Melbourne slumped to 5/146.
Herrick (37 off 43, three fours) and Reuben Wakefield staged another recovery, but when Allen ran the latter out in the 46th over, the Swans still required 27 runs for victory.
Herrick and Rose battled on and the equation was simple – 14 runs from 12 balls and then four from three.
But Tim Hoare (2/43 from 10) claimed Herrick’s wicket with his next ball, and Rose then swung and missed before being run out chasing a second run off the final delivery.
Sunday’s match was not as close, with reigning premier Ringwood registering an 86-run success.
David (102 off 145, five fours) and Daniel King (41 off 75) produced a 106-run opening stand as the Rams compiled 8/233 from their 50 overs.
Matthew Hawking took four of the last five wickets to finish with 4/38 from his 10 overs.
Ringwood quick Steven Gilmour (2/24 from six) removed Swans openers Stallworthy and Dale for ducks, but Hussey (32 off 57, four fours) and Hansen (27 off 44, four fours) dug in again. The duo steered Casey-South Melbourne to 2/63, but the Swans’ run pursuit was soon as good as over when they fell to 4/64 and then 6/96.
The Rams eventually bowled Casey out for 147, with Rose (32 off 41, three fours) the only other Swans batsman to hold his head high.
Ridgway was disgusted with his team’s loss on Saturday, putting much of the blame on Herrick.
“We lost the unlosable – 14 runs off 12 balls, with five wickets in the shed. You can’t lose from there,” Ridgway said. “I’ve been around cricket for 35 years and you can’t lose from there, but we somehow did. We had our chance with Herrick at the wicket and he blew it – (winning those games is) what he’s paid to do as our professional.” Ridgway is confident his players are not far away from a maiden triumph, but concedes the club’s clash with Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday will be a difficult one.
