Casey-South Melbourne quick Jayde Herrick was at his aggressive best against St Kilda at Casey Fields on Saturday. 27496 Picture: Luke PlummerBy Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne was the better team in its Premier Cricket clash with St Kilda, but the hapless Swans still remain without a point with one round to go.
The sides had to settle for a draw after Casey-South Melbourne’s bowlers were unable to dismiss the Saints in their allocated 84 overs.
The Swans started last Saturday at 6/263 after a strong batting display the previous weekend.
Michael Hansen (102 not out off 108 balls), Tim Dale (37 off 52) and Brett Watkins then took just 12.2 overs to score 96 runs before skipper Craig Entwistle declared at 7/359.
Hansen’s 10th Premier Cricket ton – and second of the season – was nothing short of spectacular.
The 37-year-old’s innings included nine fours and two sixes and saw him add 57 runs to his overnight tally off just 38 balls.
St Kilda charged to 1/80 in reply before the wheels came off.
Former Saint Jayde Herrick (4/98) removed opener Dimitri Deane (45 off 75) for his first scalp before combining with left-arm paceman Ash Perera (2/41) to restrict the visitors to 4/113.
Herrick bowled Peter Handscomb (28 off 59) and Berwick’s Daniel Forbes after the tea break for his third and fourth wickets before spinner Clive Rose had Andrew Downton caught at bat pad for a duck.
Casey-South Melbourne looked ready to pounce with St Kilda in deep trouble at 7/159 in the 57th over. Rose’s wicket brought streaky number-nine bladesman Adam Warren to the crease, but the Swans had no further success.
Warren (50 not out off 111) and Glenn Lalor (66 not out off 127), who Brett Watkins dropped in the gully on one, survived some shaky moments to ultimately produce an unbroken 89-run alliance.
Casey-South Melbourne had some chances, including a couple of boisterous appeals, a close run-out opportunity and the odd stray shot, but was unable to capitalise.
Swans coach Mark Ridgway was disappointed not to break his club’s season-long win drought, but drew positives from the contest.
“We probably batted a bit too well in the morning,” he said.
“It (the Saints’ victory target of 360) was probably too many in hindsight. We probably should have set them between 320 and 330.
“They were around 4/140 at tea with 40 overs to go and needed 230 or 240 (more runs) with six wickets in the shed.
“They’re in the top eight and you would have thought they would have gone for them, but I suppose their pride said ‘we don’t want Casey-South Melbourne to beat us’.”
Ridgway felt his side won five of the game’s six sessions and hopes his players can carry on their performance to Saturday’s meeting with finals aspirant Dandenong.
“We’ll just go through the process we did against St Kilda,” he said.
“If you can remain at the crease for 100 overs you’ll get plenty of runs and then give yourself the opportunity to bowl the opposition out.
“We’ll be playing to win and we’ll set the game up so that someone gets a win out of it.”
The Swans take on Dandenong in the first day of their two-dayer at Shepley Oval on Saturday from 11am.
