Soak spoiler for Swans

By Paul Pickering
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne has missed out on qualifying for Premier Cricket’s one-day finals series after another washout at the Junction Oval on Saturday.
The Swans needed a convincing win over St Kilda to have any chance of making the semi-finals in the split-innings format, but, like most of their rivals, had to settle for a draw on the weekend.
The visitors were sent in under leaden skies on Saturday morning and quickly crumbled to 3/24 at the hands of Saints paceman Simon O’Brien.
A spirited revival from young opener Jake Best (44 not out) and skipper Damien Wright (27 not out) guided the Swans to 3/86 from their opening 20-over phase.
The Saints were 1/49 – and well on their way to a lead – in the ninth over when the rain hit, leaving star batsman Graeme Rummans unbeaten without scoring.
Jayde Herrick, who opened the bowling with English seamer Peter Trego, made the only breakthrough in dismissing an on-song Peter Handscomb for 25 shortly before the weather rolled in.
The result left Casey in 13th spot on the ladder, with just one win to show for the season-opening series of five one-day matches.
The Swans will be hoping the two-day format is more kind when they don the whites against Prahran at Casey Fields this Saturday.