Swans on the hunt

By David Nagel
CASEY-South Melbourne (6/232) continued its rise up the Victorian Premier Cricket table on Saturday by winning its third match in a row, against Essendon (6/231cc) at Casey Fields.
Led brilliantly by skipper Jake Best (96 not out) the Swans once again came out on top in a close encounter, the only difference this time was they hunted down a score instead of defending one.
Bombers skipper Ben Fletcher won the toss and his side padded up against the pace of Jade Herrick (1/29) and the guile of Clive Rose (0/42). Early doors the visitors proved hard to remove.
The score was on 0/52 when the Swans struck twice, the first scalp a run-out and the second to spinner Shane Maggs (1/49).
A 117-run third wicket stand between Fletcher (81) and Benny Howell (57) looked like taking the game away from the Swans as restricting the total became the number one priority. Rod Bird (1/50) broke the impressive partnership but another 48-run joint venture took the Bombers to 3/217.
Ash Perera (2/46) chimed in with two late innings wickets and when Herrick – who was clearly the most economical of the Swans’ attack – took his only wicket for the day the home side had fought back well to restrict the total.
Still, with runs on the board, the visitors were favourites moving into the lunch break. The Swans needed a good start.
They didn’t get it. Sam Hughes (0) was dismissed by the second ball he faced which brought Best to the crease. With scores of two and three in his last two outings the negative thoughts were far outweighing the positives.
Rohan Blandford and Best combined for a 120-run partnership in the Swans’ round-eight clash with ladder-leaders Carlton. That day the two batsmen turned the Swans’ season around and Saturday required a repeat performance.
Best put on his red helmet, puffed out his chest, strode to the middle and his team-mates didn’t see him again until the job had been done. In the early part of his innings he played second fiddle to Blandford (70). The opener dominated a 115-run stand with Best before losing his wicket with the score on 121. Jolyon Leaver (32) and Best then put on 80 for the third wicket to leave the home side in the box seat. But the Swans weren’t going to make it easy for themselves.
Leaver was quickly followed by Herrick (4), Rose (0) and Shaun Foster (0) before Shane Maggs (10 not out) joined his skipper and steered the Swans home with 10 balls to spare.
Casey-South Melbourne now sits in 11th position and just five points away from a top eight spot after an awful start to the season. The Swans now pack away the coloured clothing and pull out the creams as five two-day clashes conclude their season.
The team starts its run home this Saturday with a trip to Jubilee Park in Ringwood to take on the 14th-placed Rams. Match starts at 11am.