VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET – ROUNDS 8 & 9 PREVIEW
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE v DANDENONG, Saturday 26 November, Casey Fields – 2.30pm
FRANKSTON v CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE, Sunday 27 November, A.H. Butler Oval – 2.30pm
Current Form:
Round 7: Geelong 5/397 def Casey-South Melbourne 244
By Nick Creely
IN what has already been quite an unsettling Premier season, the competition switches format once again as Twenty-20s take over for the next two weekends.
The Swans, who started the season like a house on fire, have dropped off in the last month, but have remained competitive despite falling short.
This weekend provides a fresh challenge – coming up against their two closest rivals, Dandenong and Frankston, who have both had contrasting starts to the season.
The Panthers are flying, and sit atop the ladder, while the Heat are languishing on the bottom of the ladder, as they continue a transitional phase with an exciting new crop of talent.
But in the Twenty20 format, a game can be won or lost by one single catch, a single wicket or one cameo performance.
That’s why this weekend provides the opportunity for the Swans to climb their way up the ladder, and continue to show the competition that they are on the improve.
Early in the season, it was their batting that let them down and their bowling that was the saving grace. But it seems to have switched around quite dramatically.
Collectively, the Swans have taken just 14 wickets in their last three matches, while with the bat they have averaged 237 runs.
If all three elements, Batting, Bowling and Fielding, come together into one performance, the Swans can walk away from the weekend content with their work.
In what has been a positive, captain Lachlan Sperling, Ryan Eaton and Devin Pollock are starting to find some form with the bat, while the emergence of a long-term spinner in Cam Dinger is exciting.
Middle-order batsman Jordan Wyatt returns to the side at the expense of Chris Benedek, while quick Leigh Diston comes back into the side and Cameron Brown comes out.
The squad may change for Sunday, depending on results and team balance.
Round 8 & 9 2016/17 First XI statistics
Ryan Eaton 6 matches, 181 runs, Avg 36.20, HS 64
Devin Pollock (WK) 6 matches, 164 runs, Avg 27.33, HS 43
Luke Manders 1 match, 18 runs, Avg 18.00, HS 18
Lachlan Sperling (Capt) 6 matches, 200 runs, Avg 33.33, HS 67
Jordan Wyatt 1 match, 1 run, Avg 1.00, HS 1
Michael Wallace 6 matches, 120 runs, Avg 24.00, HS 39
Dylan Hadfield 6 matches, 130 runs, Avg 26.00, HS 37, 6 wickets, Avg 32.00, BB 2/31
Nathan Lambden 6 matches, 62 runs, Avg 20.67, HS 38, 9 wickets, Avg 25.78, BB 3/40
Brendan Rose 6 matches, 35 runs, Avg 11.67, HS 28, 8 wickets, Avg 29.25, BB 2/10
Cameron Dinger 3 matches, 25 runs, Avg 12.50, HS 15, 4 wickets, Avg 47.00, BB 3/85
Leigh Diston 5 matches, 1 runs, Avg NA, HS 1*, 8 wickets, Avg 30.00, BB 3/46
Others to be considered for Sunday: Chris Benedek, Cameron Brown, Jackson Fry
Players to watch:
Swans all-rounder Dylan Hadfield has been one of the most consistent players this season, and his all-round ability looks well suited to T20 cricket. He bowls well, bats well and fields well and will be vital if the Swans lose early wickets or if they need to drop the run-rate with the ball. Ryan Eaton is another who is vitally important at the top, as he provides great energy and natural aggression. He can be the type of batsman who can make a big impact in this format of the game, and he is in good form.
Panthers fast-bowler James Pattinson could be ready to unleash this weekend. In Saturday’s game, the Swans will be expecting the prodigious talent to be breathing fire, as he continues to work back to 100% fitness. He will only have four overs, which means he will be steaming in. Spinner Callum Parkinson is another that will be tricky to face in a Twenty20, as he has excellent variation and control, something that makes left-armers so valuable in this format of the game.
Heat batsman Liam Tonkin is flying at number-three this season, and has made consecutive half-centuries against St Kilda and Kingston Hawthorn. Tonkin is an aggressive batsman who can take a game away from an opposition and will be a crucial scalp on Sunday for the Swans. Spearhead Ben Ashkenazi is a dangerous bowler and wicket-taker, and will provide a challenge for the Swans with his pace and relentless line.
It’s an important weekend for the Swans, who will be looking to stay in touch with the top-eight. Two losses this weekend will be deflating for the group, but Twenty20 cricket is an exciting format, and there should be plenty of confidence that they can break through and get back on the board.
Saturday’s match against the Panthers will be difficult, but not impossible, while Sunday’s clash against the Heat will see two exciting young squads going head to head on one of the nicest grounds in the state to watch cricket.
