CASEY-South Melbourne’s week got off on the wrong foot last Wednesday with a Twenty-20 loss to Prahran, and then concluded with another disappointing result at the hands of Frankston Peninsula on Saturday.
The Swans won the toss and sent Prahran in at Casey Fields, with the visitors going on to reach 6/143 from their 20 overs. Opener Adam Bull top-scored with 65 while partner-in-crime Steve De Bolfo made 19 in a 41-run first wicket stand.
The Rose boys were the leading wicket takers for the Swans, with Clive snaring 2/26 and Brendan 2/28.
Casey was in trouble early in its reply and never fully recovered. Rohan Blandford (0) and Roshan Livera (1) fell cheaply at the top of the innings before a 41-run stand between Jolyon Leaver (57) and Jake Best (9) went some way to steadying the ship. But with Best’s wicket at 3/48 came a string of steady dismissals and the Swans finished their 20 overs on 9/124. Leaver and Nathan Freitag (16 not out) led the way with the willow for Casey, while Prahran’s star leg spinner Bryce McGain claimed 3/19 from his four overs. Nick Morrey (2/17) and English import Dmitri Mascarenhas (2/18) each took a pair of wickets.
In the week’s other game, Casey had a big task ahead if it was to claim first innings points over Frankston Peninsula at AH Butler Oval.
Batting first on day one, Frankston reached 9/219 declared with Dale Elmi (83) top-scoring. Ash Perera (2/15), Freitag (2/30), Andrew Perrin (2/58) and Clive Rose (2/94 from an impressive 32 overs) shared the wicket-taking load for the Swans.
But Casey’s reply started poorly and the side was eventually dismissed for 157. Jordan Wyatt (67 not out) was impressive with the willow but he didn’t have enough support as the line-up crumbled around him. The Swans started poorly, with Jolyon Leaver (8) and Clive Rose (0) sent back to the sheds quickly before captain Jake Best (22) and Roshan Livera (23) attempted a fight back. But both succumbed with the score on 57 as Scott Boland (3/32) and Jack Benbow (2/49) led the bowling charge for Frankston. The Swans at one stage fell to 7/85 before Wyatt started the slog – hitting four boundaries and four sixes to keep the fight going. Wyatt’s status at number seven played against him, as he ran out of tailenders to occupy the crease with him.
Casey now sits 15th on the Premier Cricket ladder and will face North Melbourne at home in this week’s last match of the year.
