James Seymour does the damage as Essendon cruise past Camberwell
Essendon’s star batsman James Seymour turns destroyer with the ball as the Bombers cruise past Camberwell and move one step closer to locking in a Premier Cricket final appearance.
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James Seymour is a match-winner with bat in hand but it was his bowling which inspired Essendon to a big win on Saturday.
Seymour’s season-best figures of 5-22 ensured Camberwell Magpies were skittled for just 53 in their Premier Cricket one-dayer at Camberwell Sports Ground.
The Bombers then cruised home, reaching 4-55, to claim a six-wicket victory in just 14.1 overs.
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Despite making just five with the bat, Seymour is Premier Cricket’s second highest run-scorer this season with 657 runs at an average of 50.5.
The Essendon star has also scored 204 runs – including two half-centuries – for Victoria’s Second XI and will face Western Australia this week.
The part-time spinner has 21 scalps at an elite average of 13.05.
“He’s very canny, very clever, with the ball and has really come into his own in the last couple of years,” Essendon coach Mitch Johnstone said.
“He’s a genuine golden arm for us at the moment and gives Hilly a lot of control – if he’s not taking wickets, he’s not getting scored against.
“(As a batsman) he can’t be doing much more … I don’t think higher honours are too far away.
“He’s got some recognition with his Futures League stuff, he’s knocking on the door big time, so fingers crossed he gets that experience.”
The Magpies won the toss and elected to bat but were in early trouble as Cam McClure had former Bombers teammate Isaac Conway caught behind for six.
Matt Doric (2-6) was almost unplayable for 10 overs and Liam Bowe (1-0) wrapped up the innings with the first ball of his first over.
Opener Isaac Willett (18) top-scored in the short run-chase as captain Michael Hill (10 not out) and Ryan Stingel (nine not out) finished the job after a top-order wobble.
Star batsman Aaron Ayre has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury but the Bombers are confident he will be fit for finals.
With only one win, two draws and two losses after Christmas, the result was critical for Essendon’s hopes.
Entering the final round of the home-and-away season, the Bombers sit seventh and face Monash Tigers, needing victory to ensure a top-eight finish.
“We’ve had some interesting battles with Monash over the last couple of years,” Johnstone said.
“They’re playing better cricket in the last month or so, they’re well-coached and led, so we’ve got our work cut out still.
“It’s been a weird year. You look at our percentage it’s the best in the comp, but there were a lot of washouts early and a few line-ball games didn’t go our way.”