Swans expect to fly in New Year

By David Nagel
CASEY-South Melbourne’s (8/228cc) exciting month of cricket came to a thrilling and successful conclusion on Saturday when it defeated North Melbourne (8/224cc) by four runs at Casey Fields.
It was the Swans’ third game in succession where the result has come down to the wire, with two wins and a draw being the nett result of its effort. Expectation will now be a constant companion in the New Year with the twelfth placed Swans’ next four games against similarly placed opposition.
Jake Best won the toss in Saturday’s one-day clash and elected to bat, and the Swans didn’t start well with Sam Hughes (0) and Best (3) both done and dusted before the score had reached double figures. Rohan Blandford (17) and the in-form Jolyon Leaver (70) took the score to 44 before Blandford was next to go.
Pace-ace Jayde Herrick (18) made a welcome return to Swans’ colours after his recent Victorian duties and he combined with Leaver for a 40-run stand that ended with Herrick’s dismissal. Clive Rose (60) has been in imperious touch during December and that continued on the weekend.
He walked to the crease and anchored two partnerships that steered the home side beyond the “200 is respectable” cut line. The first a 62-run union with Leaver, who backed up his 84 from the previous round victory over Camberwell with another half-century, and then a 72-run partnership with Shaun Foster (38).
The Swans finished its allotted 50 overs on 8/228 and once again it was converting starts that was the key. Only one Swans’ player (Matt Wade) had made a half-century up until round seven but that has changed dramatically in the last three rounds. Four batsmen, Blandford, Leaver, Foster and Rose have combined for seven scores of 50 or better which has made last year’s finalist a competitive unit once again.
Herrick’s 140kph thunderbolts have looked good for Victoria but sadly missed by the Swans and he made an immediate impact as the visitors started its run-chase, claiming a wicket in his first over.
From there the match hung in the balance, quick wickets were countered by steadying partnerships, but the Swans eventually came out victors by four runs as 100 overs were completed.
Left-arm finger spinner Rose (3/37) was dynamic once again for the home side and might be in line for individual honours on current form. His last three games (62 and 3/70, 62 and 6/88 and 60 and 3/37) have been brilliant but he hasn’t done it alone.
Shane Maggs (2/39) was the perfect foil for Rose as for the second week running the pair held off a fast finishing opponent. Herrick (1/42), Rod Bird (1/50) and Fergus O’Connor (0/43) rounded out the Swans bowling.
Although there’s a long way to go in the season, the Swans can be well pleased with its recent resurgence and upcoming games in the New Year against Essendon (11th) and Ringwood (14th) provide an opportunity to further climb the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder.