Keeper crucial

By Marc McGowan
VICTORIAN wicketkeeper Matthew Wade stands between Casey-South Melbourne and its first victory of the Premier Cricket season.
The diminutive left-hander compiled 25 unbeaten runs before stumps for his district side Camberwell and will have a big say in whether the Magpies chase down the Swans’ modest total of 167.
Skipper Simon Hill was the other undefeated batsman as Camberwell reached 2/58 at the end of Saturday’s play at Camberwell Sports Ground.
Casey-South Melbourne’s top-five bladesmen managed just 20 runs between them, including three ducks.
The Swans slumped to 5/46 before all-rounders Tim Dale, Jayde Herrick (41) and Clive Rose (40 not out) helped their side reach three figures.
Rose and number-11 Ash Perera added 37 valuable runs for the final wicket.
Rose, who will not play the second day of the match due to Victorian under-19 commitments, has endured an indifferent season with the bat.
One-hundred-and-thirty-seven of his 155 runs have come in three of his nine innings, and he has scored four ducks.
Mark Dwyer (3/34) was the Magpies’ chief destroyer, but former Casey-South Melbourne quick Troy Ryan (2/45), Matthew Rafter (2/38) and Jack McNamara (2/9) all claimed multiple wickets.
But Damien Wright (2/14), in his first stint at the bowling crease for the Swans, gave the visitors a pulse with two early wickets.
Wright removed Camberwell openers Jarrad Dowling and Thomas Evans to reduce the Magpies to 2/27, but Casey-South Melbourne was unable to inflict further damage.
Wade and Hill have so far produced 31 runs for the third wicket.
Jeremy Bray, who has hit two one-day centuries for Ireland, is the only recognised batsman left in the line-up if the Swans can break Wade’s and Hill’s partnership early.
Jack Joslin has been in great form at second XI level for Camberwell, but Casey-South Melbourne coach Mark Ridgway is confident his attack can bowl the Swans to success.
Veteran fast bowler Matthew Hawking (groin strain) will replace Rose in the Swans’ team this weekend.
He will join Wright, Perera and Herrick in a four-pronged pace attack alongside off-spinner Ben Durrant and medium-pacer Dale.
Ridgway described his top-order batsmen’s effort as “ordinary” and “insipid”, but feels his side is still in the clash.
“I guess that’s why you’ve got 11 batsmen – to make up for what the others didn’t do,” he said.
“We missed a few crucial run outs … we could have had them 4/30. We just need to keep the pressure going.
“It never gets desperate until they pass you. We have a really good attack and we think we have a chance right up until they pass us.”
The contest continues at Camberwell Sports Ground from 11am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, forgotten batsman Robbie Elston smacked 184 off 288 balls, including 23 boundaries, for Casey-South Melbourne’s seconds as the Swans mustered an imposing 8/358 against the Magpies.
Elston made just one run in two innings at first XI level in the opening two games of the season and has played in the seconds ever since.
The former gloveman, who holds the club record for most dismissals in a season, has scored 429 runs at 52.9 at the lower standard.