Page 82 Thursday, 17 December, 2015
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Jimmy sends the scholars By JARROD POTTER VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET ROUND 12 (Day 1) A SCINTILLATING foundation was set for Casey-South Melbourne (290) by centurion James Seymour against Melbourne Uni (2/74). Seymour (123) smashed his first Swans’ ton at better than a run a ball and in tandem with Devin Pollock (59) added 149 for the second scalp. It was even more remarkable as Seymour didn’t have any sight-screens after they were vandalised on Friday. It didn’t stop the Swans opener teeing off in a swashbuckling innings more fitting of the Big Bash pre-season match the following day though. Seymour hit the scholars to all parts including one monster six that cleared the light-tower and landed on the old train tracks. He raced through the 70s and 80s with more of the same before Seymour saluted the crowd in style - as he bludgeoned Ajay Chawla into the stand to bring up the milestone after only 40 overs. As he tried to continue the rampage, Seymour got too ambitious as he reverse-swept Daniel Hutton (3/60) into the waiting hands of Tom Batters and from there the Swans innings started to shake. Pollock fell soon after Seymour and triggered a collapse as the middle order couldn’t cash in on another strong partnership. Captain Lachie Sperling (23) hit the rank ball and sped into the 20s, but succumbed quickly as did Keirran Voelkl (1) and vice-captain Michael Wallace (0). Dylan Hadfield (29) dug in before the tailenders Brendan Rose (17), Leigh Diston (17), Nathan Lambden (7) and Jackson Fry (4no) helped eke out 64 for the final four wickets. “It’s good to have a score on the board to defend, so it’s up to the bowlers now to get the wickets,” Sperling said. “Top three - particularly Pollock and Seymour - were sensational. “Jimmy was just in the zone and he just kept going, and I suppose he’d be a
An almighty tonk got James Seymour to his maiden century at Pictures: JARROD POTTER Casey-South Melbourne. 148422 bit disappointed when he got out cause there was a big score on offer, but it’s still his first premier ton and good for him to get.” Sperling remains bemused about the middle order’s stop-start efforts, but was pleased to see a defendable total on the board heading into day two. “They bowled areas and unfortunately the middle order couldn’t keep up the same pace as what Seymour and Pollock were doing and kept losing wickets constantly - probably should have a few more on the board but we’ll take 290.” While Sperling was thrilled with Seymour’s effort, the under sung knock of Pollock really caught his eye as the young Gippsland-based wicketkeeper
It continued an exceptional start to the season for Seymour who is approaching 500 runs heading into Christmas. 148422
excelled in his first innings at number three. “Mainly the way we went about it - particularly Dev - won’t get the accolades but his knock was just as important and steadied the ship there and batted with Jimmy,” Sperling said. “That’s his first go at number three - really pleased with his efforts.” The Swans chipped out two early scalps before Ben Fletcher (39no) and James McNeil (25no) dug in to keep the rot from spreading. First hour will be crucial - they’ve got Fletcher at the crease and he’s made a lot of runs over the time and he’ll be the key wicket, but we’ve just got to keep being patient with the ball.
The shed had plenty of cheering to do between Seymour and Devin Pollock. 148422
Spolly seizes the Northern approaches Demons aim at By JARROD POTTER DDCA TURF 1 - ROUND 6 (Day 1) SMART declarations proved beneficial as Dandenong-area sides were taught a thing or two about the gentleman’s game. NORTH DANDENONG v CRANBOURNE OUTPLAYED at every turn, North Dandenong (5/53) is staring down the barrel after Cranbourne (5/281dec) ran all over the hosts. After a solid start from the Northerners, the experienced Eagles’ middle order swooped on all red-leathery objects at Lois Twohig Reserve. Going at five an over, North Dandenong was left at the mercy of Steve Spoljaric (95) and Matt Chasemore (82) - who added 161 to steal the advantage back for Cranbourne. Spoljaric was caught on the very edge of the fence as he looked to pull into the houses for his century, but that only brought Lucas Ligt (67no) to the crease. Ligt punished just as many rank Northern deliveries, but eventually Spoljaric called his side back for a go with the ball. Whatever Spoljaric saw in the wicket paid off as he sniped four wickets before stumps, despite the best efforts of opposing skipper Nasrat Malikzada (21). BERWICK V BUCKLEY RIDGES AFTER missing out last week
Cranbourne's Brayden Roscoe goes for a slip and slide against Picture: JARROD POTTER North Dandenong. 148423 against Hallam Kalora Park, it was Brad James’ (58) time to shine in a gutsy rescue effort for Berwick (9/144dec) against Buckley Ridges (3/26). James watched the top order collapse around him as Lucas Hoogenboom (4/19) continued his good form with the ball. At 4/19, the side was in disarray until Ryan Crawford
(42) enlisted for the cause alongside James. The tandem added a clean 100 before James succumbed to Hoogenboom and when Crawford departed soon after, the Bears’ tally stalled again. Some captaincy wizardry from Jarrod Goodes brought the Bears back in for a short-ditched barrage, which managed to undo three Ridg-
es’ top order bats including the skipper Dan Watson (0) trapped LBW. Jayson Hobbs (10no) survived and will go hunting for Buckley Ridges to get the remaining 119 for victory. HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS v LYNDALE HEINZ Southern Districts (7/258dec) has Lyndale (6/70) over a barrel. It’s not just first innings points that are at danger for the Dales but the outright seems far too close after the Cobras unleashed with bat and ball alike. With a bit from everyone, especially the former skipper Trevor Davies (82) and Matt Downe (45no), the hosts were not gracious with the way they dispatched anything Lyndale threw at them. Ciaron Connolly (4/75) continued to burden the lion’s share of responsibility as eventually the pain was cut short by declaration. It just changed the format of the pain though as Lyndale fell to 6/70 by stumps as Hari Krishan (4/16) inflicted another scintilla of soreness. 188 is the margin on the first innings and realistically, 14 wickets is the magic number Heinz will aim for next week. NARRE WARREN v HALLAM KALORA PARK THE rain on Friday made Sweeney Reserve unplayable on Saturday, forcing the match to be rescheduled as a one-dayer this week.
third T20 title By RUSSELL BENNETT
A KOOWEERUP and Upper Beaconsfield rematch could still be on the cards for the WGCA’s Kookaburra Twenty20 decider after both the Demons and the Maroons made it through to the semi-finals next month. The Demons (3/163) easily had the better of the Maroons (110) in last season’s decider at Toomuc Reserve in Pakenham and are aiming for a brilliant third T20 title in as many seasons. But standing in the way of a repeat of last year’s grand final are Tooradin and B Grade surprise packet, Gembrook. The giant-killing Brookers (111) rolled Carlisle Park for just 79 on Sunday at Mountain Road in Cockatoo after cruising past Premier outfit Emerald by four wickets in round one. This is the second straight season the Brookers have reached the semis on the back of wins over both the Bombers and Vikings. But for the second straight season, the Brookers face the unenviable task of trying to find a way past the dominant Demons in the semis after Michael Giles’s side cruised to a five-wicket win over Pakenham Upper/Toomuc off the back of a pair of quickfire innings from Brad Remy (43) and Chris Bright (44no). The other semi-final pits Upper Beaconsfield against Tooradin after the Seagulls (6/142) beat Devon Meadows (6/141) by four wickets and the Maroons (4/112) - led by an unbeaten Bathiya Perera half-century - were far too strong for Merinda Park (109).
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