By Paul Pickering
A BRILLIANT all-round performance from Clive Rose lifted Casey-South Melbourne over ladder-leading Carlton on Saturday and into a log-jam at the top of the Premier Cricket table.
The emerging left-arm orthodox spinner took 5/19 from 7.3 overs and added a mature innings of 47 as Casey chased down Carlton’s 187 in the last over of the one-day clash at Princes Park.
The Swans, who already boast match-winners in the form of skipper Damien Wright, import Peter Trego and firebrand paceman Jayde Herrick, found another on Saturday.
Rose’s heroics cancelled out a century from Blues’ opener Dean Peter-Budge (102), who exploded in the third phase of the split-innings match to set the visitors a decent target.
The Swans made 3/85 to Carlton’s 2/63 after 20 overs, allowing Rose, who batted at number six, to anchor the chase alongside Tom Hussey (26 not out) and Damien Wright (21) in the final stanza.
Jake Best (32) and Joel Leaver (28) made handy contributions at the top of the order, but there was no doubt it was Rose’s day.
The 21-year-old Endeavour Hills resident said he was delighted to perform in such a crucial game, which saw the Swans jump from ninth to sixth on the ladder and within four points of top spot.
Rose, who has now taken 23 wickets at an average of 11 – to go with 175 runs at 69 – this season, said he benefited from a midweek hit-out with Victoria’s under-23 Futures League side against New South Wales.
“It definitely helped playing the 23s game during the week, because I got some bowling in and by Saturday I had a rhythm going,” he explained.
“I think it was just one of those games where I got rewarded (with wickets).”
The former Australian under-19 representative revealed that his form with the ball this summer has been the result of a decision to bowl faster and flatter.
“Last season I tried to slow down, so I could spin the ball a bit more, but I realised that it didn’t work for me,” he said.
“This season I’ve gone back to the way I’ve normally bowled and I think that’s why I’m taking more wickets and building more pressure as well.
“I guess I’m more of a containing bowler – I realise that’s my job.”
The Victorian hierarchy has long regarded Rose as a prospect, but he’s yet to get an opportunity at senior level behind the likes of spinners Jon Holland and Bryce McGain.
His batting provides a useful point of difference though, and his 77-ball innings on Saturday – which took the Swans within 12 runs of their target – was just what his skipper had asked from him.
“Wrighty just said, ‘If you bat through to the end of the game, we’ll win’,” Rose said.
“Unfortunately I failed to do that, but it worked out for us and we won the game.”
The Swans overhauled Carlton’s total with four balls and two wickets to spare, earning five valuable premiership points as the finals race comes down to the wire.
Incredibly, just five points separates first-placed Carlton and eighth-placed St Kilda, so the finals picture is set to change dramatically during the last phase of four two-day matches. Casey-South Melbourne will host third-placed Camberwell at Casey Fields this Saturday and Sunday.
