Victorian Premier Cricket: Swans move to sixth after third consecutive win

Casey South Melbourne coach William ‘Will’ Carr isn’t talking finals. But he is talking up his in-form fast bowler Nathan Lambden.

Swannies quick Nathan Lambden knocked over the great David King for a blob.

Three wins on the spin for the Swans and suddenly they’re sixth on the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder.

Just don’t mention finals to coach William “Will’’ Carr.

He doesn’t want to go there.

“Not interested,’’ he said this morning when the prospect of a top-eight finish for Casey South Melbourne was raised.

“Don’t say that word. Just one week at a time. We’re taking it one week at a time.

“How do I put it without sounding so clichéd? We’ve put certain things in place this season – some things are new, some have carried over from previous years – and we’re trying to work towards them.

“We’ve been able to tick some boxes so far. There are some things we’re still striving towards. If we do that the results will be the results. They’ll look after themselves.’’

The Swans’ season looked like it was tumbling towards oblivion after a poor loss to Richmond at Central Reserve. It followed a last-ball defeat to Geelong.

But they’ve accounted for Camberwell Magpies, Greenvale Kangaroos and Ringwood in the past three rounds to go into the positive with six wins, five losses and a draw, putting them sixth on the ladder.

Top Swan Devin Pollock contributed with bat and gloves.

The fixture – they meet Kingston Hawthorn (17th), Northcote (fifth), Frankston Peninsula (13th) and Fitzroy-Doncaster (11th) in the final four rounds – suggests they can stay there.

Carr said the players had shown resilience to “stay on course’’.

While the first-season coach avoided talk of finals like a moccasin avoids puddles, he was happy to highlight three outstanding contributors against Ringwood last Saturday.

Leg-spinning all-rounder Ruwantha Kellepotha clattered 56 off 50 balls, with 6 fours and 1 six, as the Swans raised 234 from their 50 overs after batting first at Jubilee Park.

It was his first half-century of the season.

“A tremendous knock,’’ Carr said.

“With Ruwie and his batting, it’s about self-belief at the level.

“His technique is as good as any middle-order player you’ll see, and his ability to find the boundary is a bonus. What he did on the weekend is what I know he can produce.’’

Kellepotha’s match got better: he took 4-28 off eight overs as the Rams capitulated for 114, taking his season aggregate to 18 wickets at 19.9.

Kellepotha came in after two early strikes from paceman Nathan Lambden, who finished with 3-11 off 5.5 overs.

No often does the great David King get knocked over for a duck, but Lambden produced a beauty to rattle his stumps.

Without any fuss or fanfare the big quickie has captured 13 wickets since the Christmas break.

“Nathe’s been pretty good all year, and his past month has been really good,’’ Carr said.

“His spell against Ringwood was the quickest I’ve seen from anyone this season in Premier Cricket.

“His pace has been solid all season and his consistency has been tremendous.

“He’s worked tremendously hard on his fitness … he’s fit, he’s strong, he’s in a good head space.’’

Wicketkeeper Devin Pollock gave sterling support to the paceman and the leggie, taking two catches off Lambden’s bowling and one off Kellepotha’s, as well as making two stumpings off the slowie.

His five dismissals went with an innings of 42 off 75 balls; little wonder the Swans regard Pollock so highly.

Meanwhile the Swans are considering giving former Australian Under 16 representative Devlin Webb a First XI debut on Saturday.

The all-rounder crossed to CSM from Frankston Peninsula at the Christmas break and has performed well in the Second XI.

Last Saturday he made 50 not out and took 3-45 against Ringwood.

* Swans opener Ashley Chandrasinghe has been selected in the Victorian Second XI to meet South Australia in a four-day match at Ringwood starting next Monday.