SWANS GAIN LIFT

SOUTH Barwon’s clash with St Joseph’s is evenly poised after the first day after Phil Lang (68), Matt Kennedy (47) and Joel Davies (46) combined to steer the Swans to 9-229 against a persistent Saints’ attack.

Matt Laffey (30) combined with Davies for a 73-run second-wicket stand after the skipper, Chris Barthol- omeusz (0), retired with a hamstring strain before returning later in the day.

But it was the 82-run, fifthwicket union between Lang and Kennedy that ensured the home side mounted a defendable tally, after being 4-84.

“There’s always going to be a partnership in a game of cricket, but I didn’t think our bowlers gave them too many scoring opportunities or too many boundary balls,” Saints’ captain Luke Ibbs said.

“The wicket was pretty tacky early on and we bowled really well on it, but it certainly flattened out and they put a good partnership together, but I thought our bowlers toiled really well.”

Lang struck six boundaries and two sixes, while Kennedy contributed six fours as the Swans established momentum with the 101-minute partnership.

Despite South Barwon’s push to a defendable tally, Ibbs praised his line-up’s effort with the ball, particularly with the slow bowlers adhering to the game plan early.

“Our spinners, especially Jack O’Donoghue and Angus Humphrey, bowled in a partnership where they really tied the batsmen down and took away scoring opportunities,” he said.

“Mitch McMullan as well, bowling leg-spin into the wind struggled in previous weeks, but today was spot on.”

O’Donoghue finished with 2-30 from 18 overs after conceding just three runs from his opening 10, while Humphrey ended with 2-42.

Opener Alex Bowles was the best rewarded of the Saints with 3-65.

“Bowlesy was a workhorse for us with both old and new ball,” Ibbs said.