Casey South Melbourne captain Luke Wells defies Dandenong with superb 154
CASEY South Melbourne captain Luke Wells defied Dandenong with a superb 154, his second century of the Premier Cricket season.
South East
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EASYGOING English batsman Luke Wells has fitted in so well at Casey-South Melbourne that club coach Nick Jewell jokes, “he could even be an Aussie’’.
The Sussex left-hander on Sunday scored his second century for the season — a classy 154 — as the vastly improved Swans served it up to reigning champion Dandenong in a spicy encounter at Casey Fields.
Dandy had posted a mountainous 8-369 on Saturday but the Swans refused to surrender as they made their reply, even threatening to pull of one of Premier Cricket’s great run heists.
With Wells oozing class, Casey-South Melbourne surged to 3-180 and then 4-277 on Sunday afternoon.
At 5-321 the Swans needed 49 runs to win with 11 overs left. With Wells still going strong in partnership with Jordi Wyatt, the hosts were probably in front.
But the dismissals of Devin Pollock (23), Wells and Nathan Lambden (1) with the addition of only one run caused Casey South Melbourne, at 8-328, to change to survival mode.
It did, holding on for an impressive draw, finishing 8-332.
“Pretty happy,’’ Jewell said of the outcome.
“Not happy that we had 369 set against us but to hold on against last year’s premiers and be 8-332 on the back of making 330 the week before shows the direction we are heading in.
“We wouldn’t have done that last year.’’
Wells’ 154 contained 17 fours and 1 six and came off a marathon 261 balls. It follows his earlier knocks of 121 and 51 for the Swans.
The skipper shared an 83-run fourth-wicket stand with Michael Wallace (36) and a 97-run fifth-wicket partnership with Wyatt (54).
Former Lachie Sperling made 36 before unluckily being given out LBW just before lunch.
Jewell said Wells’ foot work was a feature of his innings.
“His timing and the use of his feet. He plays with long levers,’’ he said.
“He’s a class player.’’
Wells is much more than just a batsman for the Swans. He is captain and a great example for his younger teammates.
“He’s terrific, very positive and reassuring,’’ Jewell said of Wells.
“I’ve been focusing more on the mental side of the game and not making mental mistakes … trying to get them a bit stronger or harder and tougher mentally, and he probably comes from the other side of trying to play with a clear mind and go out and back your ability.
“It’s probably a good contrast really.’’