Casey South Melbourne’s push towards finals received a massive boost on Saturday with the Swans in a strong position after day one of round 15 in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Entering a must-win contest with second-placed Footscray at Casey Fields was going to be a difficult task on paper, but the hosts rose to the challenge on the first day.
In the sweltering conditions, Casey South Melbourne won the toss and opted for the ball.
It was ultimately a decision that paid dividends early with the Swans getting two breakthroughs, removing opener Aiman Nadeem (1) and claiming the prized wicket of Mitchell Jamieson (9) to have the Dogs 2/10.
Jamieson came in with some hot form, posting two centuries in his previous two innings leading in.
Some pushback came in the form of a Dylan Brasher (67) half century and a promising partnership with gun bat Dylan Kight unfolding.
Brasher and Kight are number two and three in league run-scoring respectively, with Kight holding an outrageous average of 118 heading into the game.
Kight had been dismissed just once in his last six knocks, a period that included two half-centuries and an unbeaten 128.
That’s why it became a pivotal turning point and moment in the game when Swans skipper Ash Chandrasinghe threw down the stumps at cover with just one to aim at, catching Kight (43) short and ending a 94-run stand.
At that point, Footscray was 3/104 but proceeded to lose its next seven wickets for just 102, stumbling to 206 after 88 overs.
Ashvin Adihetty bowled tidily to post figures of 3/36 from 20 overs, while Finlay Gordon, Muhammad Irfan and Harry Hoekstra all took two poles each.
After the change-over period, the hosts were left with seven overs to bat and managed to see the day out unscathed, sitting at 0/15 overnight.
Chandrasinghe (9 not out) and Gordon (5 not out) will look to provide a platform on day two and guide Casey South Melbourne to a crucial victory, requiring 192 runs with all 10 wickets in the shed.
St Kilda is in danger of losing its second game for the season after Camberwell rolled the visitors for 193 thanks to three wickets from Sacheen Paramesh.
The Magpies are 1/65 in their pursuit entering the second day of action.
In the third versus fourth clash, Carlton posted a competitive total of 6/296 at Albert Ground against Melbourne.
The score was led by centuries from Jagadeswara Koduru (110) and Evan Gulbis (105 not out).
A ton from Aaron Crispe (110) and half centuries from Will Blair (57) and Archie Lalor (59) aided Northcote in tallying 8/357 against Essendon.
Fitzroy Doncaster opening bat Jack Rudd brought up 124 while Sam Elliott provided 60 as the Lions notched 291 at home in a clash with Frankston Peninsula.
At Central North Reserve, Richmond smashed its way to 256 against Ringwood as Jonathan D’Rozario (87) and Dan Scholz (59) batted well through the innings.
Another pair of centurions lifted Prahran to a massive innings of 375 away at Melbourne University.
Cameron Hemp (127) and Alex Turner (105) both tonned up and formed a 208-run third wicket partnership.
It’s game on at Greenvale Reserve as Benjamin Cliff (four wickets) and the Kangaroos knocked over Kingston Hawthorn for 284.
The Hawks were led by Josh Manning (76), Joel Lewis (56) and Vimesh Wickramasinghe (52).
In the final nine overs remaining in the day, Greenvale lost two wickets to settle at 2/19 at stumps.
VIC PREMIER SUMMARY
Results R15 (Two Day, Day 1)
Greenvale 2/19 v Kingston Hawthorn 284, Geelong 187 v Dandenong 1/92, Melbourne University v Prahran 375, Richmond 256 v Ringwood, Casey South Melbourne 0/15 v Footscray 206, Melbourne v Carlton 6/296, Camberwell 1/65 v St Kilda 193, Northcote 8/357 v Essendon, Fitzroy Doncaster 291 v Frankston Peninsula.
