By Tyler Lewis
Casey-South Melbourne is just one week from securing a top-four finish in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition.
The Swans came up against the unpredictable Frankston-Peninsula outfit on Saturday, and in conditions that suited milestone man – James Nanopoulos – to a tee, the Swans entered the match with the utmost respect of their lower ranked opposition.
“All sides regardless of where they sit on the ladder have good players and have good days,” Swans coach Will Carr said.
“Some sides down the bottom have beaten some of the sides up the top so I don’t think you can take anyone for granted.
“There’s still a fair bit to play for, while we’re sitting fourth there was no guarantee of finals, we certainly had to be switched on.
“They have a few really good players; Nanopoulos is certainly one of them, in his 250th, a fair bit to play for.
“Brodie Symons another really good player and some dangerous players around them, they have some good quality in their line-up,” he said.
The Swans won the toss and sent the Heat in, and while the wicket and conditions appeared they would be difficult to bat in all day, the Swans got the best out of the new ball and immediately had the game by the scruff of the neck.
Nathan Lambden (10-2-2-21) was again utterly impressive, while Jackson Fry (8-3-1-14) and Devlin Webb (9-3-2-22) also impressed Carr as his side restricted the Heat to 9/133 from its 50 overs.
“I mean ‘Lamby’ is doing what Lamby has been doing for the entire season,” Carr said.
“Jacko (Fry)… look I have said it before, he is probably one of the unluckiest bowlers I have seen, he comes in and he’s consistent with his lines and lengths, he was no different on Saturday, he was miserly, got an important wicket for us.
“Bansal can take the game away quickly, that was a big wicket for us, Webby (Dev Webb) hasn’t put a foot wrong since joining us at Christmas.
“He has put in impressive performances on the board in the seconds and has earned himself – well earned – a spot in the ones and in his third game he is reliable and picked up two important wickets for us,” he said.
With just 134 to get in 50 overs, one would assume the Swans would have had a dip in securing the bonus point, but Casey crunched the numbers and came to the conclusion that just the win would do in its pursuit for the top four.
“We worked out that the bonus point wasn’t going to make a difference for us, it had no bearing on how the top four or eight would form,” he said.
“The bonus point wasn’t something we wanted to chase down, we knew it was a new-ball wicket and we needed to get through not only Nanopoulos, but Symons who both bowled well up front.
“Their follow-ups bowled well too, we had to work hard for our runs – no question – there was no need for us to try and accelerate.
“They didn’t give us any cheap runs, they were competitive right through and we had to work really hard for our runs on Saturday.
“We just wanted to make sure we secured the five points rather than go after the bonus six,” Carr said.
After losing both openers in quick succession after a tidy partnership early, the Swans had consistent starters across the board.
Ashley Chandrasinghe (17), Luke Manders (20), Michael Wallace (39) and Harrish Kannan (44) all reached double-figures as the Swans passed the Heat with a tick under nine overs to go, and five wickets in the shed.
Though teenager Kannan will be disappointed 44 wasn’t an unbeaten half-century in the victory, Carr was
“He is 18, he is still learning the game and also his own game, that is an upside that there is still so much upside for Harrish,” he said.
“His ability to take on the bowling, for a guy his age, it’s so impressive… he can hit a big ball.
“He can be two off 20 balls, and then he can be 20 off 30, he can catch up if he bats time.
“He has had a terrific break out year… there is lots of upside for him no doubt”.
The Swans will host Fitzroy Doncaster this Saturday; if the Swans are to win, they will travel to St Kilda in the qualifying final the following week.
If it is to lose to the Lions, the Swans will need to rely on Richmond losing to Carlton, and Footscray losing to Northcote to remain inside second chance contention.
