Batsmen Craig Entwistle and Chris Benham have big jobs in front of them if Casey-South Melbourne is to challenge Hawthorn-Monash University this Saturday.By Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne may rue three vital dropped catches in its Victorian Premier Cricket contest with Hawthorn-Monash University at Monash University Clayton on Saturday.
Hawks Aaron Dragwidge (85 runs off 205 balls) and Dale Tormey (77 off 86) both had lives on their way to half-centuries, helping Hawthorn-Monash University to an imposing 7/344.
Dragwidge was missed on 47, while Tormey was even luckier – being dropped in single figures then again in the 40s, before being caught behind on a Lukas Hoogenboom no ball.
On what was a magnificent deck, Swans captain Michael Hansen, in his first game in six weeks after fracturing a finger on his left hand, decided to open with right-arm quick Hoogenboom and left-arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose.
But Casey-South Melbourne had to wait until the introduction of Matthew Hawking (2/76 from 23 overs) to claim its first wicket.
Hawking also snared the scalp of David Alleyne (35 off 58 balls), but it was hard work for the Swans.
When outswing bowler Tim Dale took the first of his career-best five wickets the Hawks were 3/128, but Dragwidge and Tormey ensured the total motored on for the home side.
Their 113-run partnership assumed control for Hawthorn-Monash University before Dale ended the union on 241.
Dale then pocketed three further wickets while conceding just six runs to give Casey-South Melbourne a chance to shoot the Hawks down at 7/255.
The momentum came to a halt, however, with Ben Cookson (56 not out off 63 balls) and Darren Dewar (36 not out off 81) first steadying the ship then putting their foot on the accelerator.
They combined for 89 runs up until stumps to leave Hawthorn-Monash University in the enviable position of deciding whether to bat on this weekend.
Hansen bemoaned the dropped catches and estimated it cost his club up to 150 runs.
“We’ve made it hard for ourselves. Timmy Dale got his first five-for and bowled exceptionally well – if it was not for him we’d be chasing a little bit more,” he said.
“They’re not far out of the top eight (in 10th spot on the ladder), so they’ll have the confidence to declare, but it depends on what the weather is like during the week.”
Hansen was ecstatic to be back in the line-up, but praised his team-mates’ performance in his absence.
“It’s damn hard. It’s funny because I now know what some of the parents feel like watching their kids and wanting the team to do so well,” he said.
“That’s where it’s hard, but the last game (which the Swans won with six balls to spare) was just awesome to watch.”
Casey-South Melbourne’s prospects are certainly on the improve, with Reuben Wakefield expected to be available next round from private school commitments, and up-and-coming batsmen Brett Watkins (118 not out) and Marc Ferne (46) making runs in the seconds.
All-rounder Luke van Raay is yet to join training after a hernia operation, but the club expects to see him in action after Christmas.
The clash continues at 11am on Saturday.
The Swans were in action in the Primary Edge Cup Twenty20 competition against Fitzroy-Doncaster at Casey Fields last night (Wednesday).
Scores were not available when the News went to press.
