By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET – ROUND 12 (Day 1)
A SCINTILLATING foundation was set for Casey-South Melbourne (290) by centurion James Seymour against Melbourne Uni (2/74).
Seymour (123) smashed his first Swans’ ton at better than a run a ball and in tandem with Devin Pollock (59) added 149 for the second scalp.
It was even more remarkable as Seymour didn’t have any sight-screens after they were vandalised on Friday.
It didn’t stop the Swans opener teeing off in a swashbuckling innings more fitting of the Big Bash pre-season match the following day though.
Seymour hit the scholars to all parts including one monster six that cleared the light-tower and landed on the old train tracks.
He raced through the 70s and 80s with more of the same before Seymour saluted the crowd in style – as he bludgeoned Ajay Chawla into the stand to bring up the milestone after only 40 overs.
As he tried to continue the rampage, Seymour got too ambitious as he reverse-swept Daniel Hutton (3/60) into the waiting hands of Tom Batters and from there the Swans innings started to shake.
Pollock fell soon after Seymour and triggered a collapse as the middle order couldn’t cash in on another strong partnership. Captain Lachie Sperling (23) hit the rank ball and sped into the 20s, but succumbed quickly as did Keirran Voelkl (1) and vice-captain Michael Wallace (0).
Dylan Hadfield (29) dug in before the tailenders Brendan Rose (17), Leigh Diston (17), Nathan Lambden (7) and Jackson Fry (4no) helped eke out 64 for the final four wickets.
“It’s good to have a score on the board to defend, so it’s up to the bowlers now to get the wickets,” Sperling said. “Top three – particularly Pollock and Seymour – were sensational.
“Jimmy was just in the zone and he just kept going, and I suppose he’d be a bit disappointed when he got out cause there was a big score on offer, but it’s still his first premier ton and good for him to get.”
Sperling remains bemused about the middle order’s stop-start efforts, but was pleased to see a defendable total on the board heading into day two.
“They bowled areas and unfortunately the middle order couldn’t keep up the same pace as what Seymour and Pollock were doing and kept losing wickets constantly – probably should have a few more on the board but we’ll take 290.”
While Sperling was thrilled with Seymour’s effort, the under sung knock of Pollock really caught his eye as the young Gippsland-based wicketkeeper excelled in his first innings at number three.
“Mainly the way we went about it – particularly Dev – won’t get the accolades but his knock was just as important and steadied the ship there and batted with Jimmy,” Sperling said. “That’s his first go at number three – really pleased with his efforts.”
The Swans chipped out two early scalps before Ben Fletcher (39no) and James McNeil (25no) dug in to keep the rot from spreading.
First hour will be crucial – they’ve got Fletcher at the crease and he’s made a lot of runs over the time and he’ll be the key wicket, but we’ve just got to keep being patient with the ball.
