By Nick Creely
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
CASEY SOUTH-MELBOURNE DOUBLE-HEADER PREVIEW
It is the first of three double-headers in the Victorian Premier Cricket 2016/17 season, with the Swans ready to tackle two quality opponents.
ROUND 3
Northcote vs Casey South-Melbourne
Saturday 15 October, 11am, Bill Lawry Oval
CASEY started its season off with a stunning win last week against the 2015/16 runners-up Ringwood, bowling brilliantly to set up a comfortable win.
The Swans will travel to Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday to face Northcote, who lost their Round 2 clash against Prahran by five wickets.
The game will be the first of the double-header weekend, and Casey will be desperate to go 3-0 and set a platform to launch at a finals campaign.
Much like last week, it will be vitally important that the Swans apply constant pressure with the ball in hand, as Northcote possess a highly fancied batting line-up, which includes Solomon Mire, skipper Steven Taylor and Sam Harbison.
The Swans pace quartet Nathan Lambden, Leigh Diston, Jackson Fry and Brendan Rose need to be on their game and carry the momentum that shook the Rams last week.
Casey’s top-order will need to play with the same discipline it did last week, with Kasun Suriaratchie set to be one of the most important wickets for Northcote.
Suriaratchie was slightly scratchy last week, but at his best is as damaging as any player in the competition.
In a five week sequence early last season, Suriaratchie posted 77, 89,106, 91 and 51 – highlighting his importance to the Swans batting line-up.
Skipper Lachlan Sperling and Devin Pollock will need to get amongst the runs and provided a solid platform for the lower-order of the Swans.
ROUND 4
Casey South-Melbourne vs Essendon
Sunday 16 October, 11am, Casey Fields
The Swans will then host Essendon at home in the second of the Premier double-headers on Sunday.
The men from Windy Hill were disappointing in Round 2, losing against the Kingston Hawks by two wickets.
But the Swans will be wary of their potential, with players such as Aaron Shellie, former Victorian batsman Michael Hill and James Lidgett making up a strong top-order.
However, the boys at Casey Fields have got some tricks, and possess bowlers with great discipline.
The Swans have already proven they will be a tough side to beat at home, and again, the pace-bowlers will be the key.
There is rain forecast early in the day but is expected to clear, so the bowlers will look to take full advantage of the conditions.
Depending on the results of the Round 3 clash the day before, the Swans will be supremely confident they can take it to Essendon and put them under immense pressure, similar to what they did to the Rams in Round 2.
Casey South-Melbourne
The squad may change for Sunday’s match
Rounds 3 & 4 2016/17 first XI statistics
Ashan Wijayakumara 1 match, 39 runs, Avg.39, HS 39, STR 43.8
Kasun Suriaratchie 1 match, 15 runs, Avg.15, HS 15, STR 35.7
Devin Pollock (WK) 1 match, 12 runs, Avg.12, HS 12, STR 40.0
Lachlan Sperling (Capt) 1 match, 22 runs, Avg.22, HS 22, STR 64.7
Ryan Eaton 1 match, 1 run, Avg.1, HS 1, STR 25.0
Michael Wallace 1 match, 23 runs, Avg.23, HS 23, STR 88.5
Dylan Hadfield 1 match, 7 runs, Avg NA, HS 7*, STR 58.3, 2 wickets, Avg 15.5, BB 2/31
Brendan Rose 1 match, 4 runs, Avg NA, HS 4*, STR 66.7, 2 wickets, Avg 5.00, BB 2/10
Nathan Lambden 1 match, has not batted, 2 wickets, Avg.4.5, BB 2/9
Leigh Diston 1 match, has not batted, 1 wicket, Avg.40, BB 1/40
Jackson Fry 1 match, has not batted, 3 wickets, Avg 11.3, BB 3/34
Casey players to watch:
Left-arm quick Jackson Fry sent a statement to the Premier competition in Round 2, taking 3/34 against the Rams. Not a lot of sides would have seen too much of him, which is a major advantage for the Swans. Skipper Lachlan Sperling looked solid in Round 2, making 22 at number four. He will be a key player in the double-header and will need to continue to lead in a positive manner, while all-rounder Dylan Hadfield is growing in stature, with his accurate bowling and crucial late-order batting a crucial component of Casey’s side.
With the Swans coming off a solid opening-season win, they must continue to play with the momentum that saw them rout the Rams.
It seems the momentum of the latter parts of last year is still with the side, but the challenge is to continue to strive to get better.
They are under no illusions that cricket is a tough game, and must take their chances, continue to play disciplined cricket, and then the rest will take care of itself.
