By Nick Creely
There’s plenty to like about the new-look Casey-South Melbourne as it began its new era under Will Carr on Saturday.
It was not too long ago – on 5 October 2019 in fact – that Casey-South Melbourne began the Victorian Premier Cricket season with the same fixture.
A one-day clash against Prahran, but the only difference was it being played at Casey Fields, and it was a disastrous way to start a season, rolled for just 45 against a red-hot True Blues attack breathing utter fire.
If maturity as a cricket club – and a team – can be defined by how you bounce back from those kinds of matches, then the Swans are not only on the right track, but have certainly shelved the things that have failed them in the past.
Not only did the new-look Swans – introducing four debutants – bank a memorable win to kick-off the season, and after such an arduous wait to return to the field, it was on the True Blues’ home soil, on the very day it unfurled its premiership flag from last season.
These are certainly the wins that will set the tone now for Michael Wallace’s group.
There would be no top order collapse this time around as the Swans elected to bat, with Ashley Chandrasinghe (28) and Lachie Sperling (18) providing a strong platform, but a double strike from True Blues paceman Nick Boland – both caught behind – had the game on level pegging.
On debut, Jordan Gilmore (22) looked comfortable, but a stunning catch at mid-wicket from skipper Jake Hancock off an errant pull shot brought about his undoing. The freakish catch had to be seen to be believed.
Touted highly, and coming into the season with a tinge of expectation, youngster Harrish Kannan batted with maturity, first linking up in a vital 66-run stand with Devin Pollock (25) but anchoring the middle-part of the innings to set the Swans on its way to 8/211.
Kannan faced 114 balls for an assured 77, hit a lovely six, and showed poise with the bat to really lock down his spot in the Swans’ middle order in a sign of things to come.
He navigated challenging spells from Matt Wilcox, Bailey Moon and Lachie Bangs and waited for the right ball to hit. As already mentioned, it indicated a maturity that has perhaps previously not been there.
“He’s another year older, got a bit more experience so he’ll grow into a bona-fide first XI cricketer,” Swans coach Will Carr said of his emerging young star only weeks before the start of the season..
“He’s one to really keep an eye on this season.”
As they say, the coach knows best.
Carr said Saturday’s performance was one in which his group showed tremendous grit.
“(It was) a tough wicket at Prahran,” Carr said.
“All the batters fought really hard against a good attack.
“(Harrish) Kannan was outstanding, both technically correct and creative.”
Nick Boland was the shining light for the home side, turning in an excellent return of 5/40 from his 10 overs.
But was 211 enough against a True Blues batting group – fresh off a premiership – and with the sprinkling of names such as Nick Blaich, Lachie Bangs, Damon Egan, Jake Hancock and James Billington?
In the end, yes, but not many would have predicted the Swans could hold the reigning premiers back, especially with their leading quick from last season, Cal Dodson missing with illness.
Usually possessing a trademark aggression and fluency, the True Blues simply couldn’t get their game up and running, struggling after some early wickets which saw them stumble to 4/60 and scrambling hard late before ultimately it all became too difficult.
On debut, leggie Ruwantha Kellepotha was a marvel, snagging 3/24 off his 10 overs – importantly sending down four maidens in the process – to be the match-turner.
Kellepotha – on debut after a stunning period of dominance in the Dandenong District Cricket Association – snared three of the most important wickets, Damon Egan (16), skipper Jake Hancock (16), and the ominously dangerous James Billington (4) with some excellent spin bowling, and tricks that come with so much experience.
Fellow spinner Luke Shelton (1/37) also bowled nicely on debut, spearhead Nathan Lambden (3/40) provided the finishing touches and bowled quite quickly, left-armer Jackson Fry (1/24) got the ball rolling with a terrific new-ball spell that included one of his great celebrations, while debutant Evan Allaway (1/22) will remember his maiden wicket, Nick Blaich, for a long-time after the True Blues keeper-bat looked to dispatch him but losing his stumps.
“Kellapotha was brilliant,” Carr said.
“He took three key wickets, and just didn’t bowl a bad ball.
“And he was well supported by the rest of the bowling group.”
It was a complete team performance from the Swans who will now be aiming to make it two from two when they welcome another highly fancied opponent in Melbourne to Casey Fields.
In the other grades, the Swans banked a final-ball win against the True Blues in the seconds, with emerging opener Arthav Deshpande starring with 64, Isaiah Jassal cracking 47 not out and skipper Dylan Hadfield contributing 46, the thirds went down by 16 runs, while the fourths showed great signs with a win as debutant Sujan Hulangamuwa (5/22) dominated proceedings, while with the bat Jay Singh (64) and Rajiv Kumar (57) crunched half-centuries.
