Casey returns with a bang
Mark Casey has placed Australia on the verge of a test match victory...
A crushing performance from recalled Australian skip Mark Casey has placed the host nation on the verge of securing the Moama International with just two rubbers to play.
Having entered the day holding a 2-1 lead, Casey guided Mark Berghofer and Wayne Turley to a thrilling 8-5, 6-11, 5-0 victory over Merv King, Stuart Airey and Graham Shadwell, leaving England at its mercy with just the women’s pairs and men’s singles to come this afternoon.
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Pulling on the green and gold for the first time since the 2008 World Championships, Casey, whose credits include a Commonwealth Games gold medal alongside Turley and Bill Cornehls in 2006, looked back to his barnstorming best as the effortless left hander produced a driving master class to set up the victory.
With Berghofer and King engaged in an intriguing battle up front, and Turley and Airey executing a number of bombs for their respective nations, the ‘Hammer’ turned up the heat on the national selectors with a vintage performance.
"Merv King is one of the best players in the world and Stuart and Graham are in great form, so to get a win against those guys was a great feeling," Casey said.
"I felt in the first set I played a lot of conversion shots, which probably helped us win the set and in the second set the English boys came out firing like we knew they would and they were a bit too good for us.
"But Turls played a great shot (in the tie-breaker) to win the game."
"To go 3-1 up with two games to go leaves us in a really good position."
Despite the setback, King was adamant the tournament was far from over, with the door still ajar for the Three Lions to come roaring back.
"Obviously it has put the pressure on the girls and guys, but I think we can still do it," the 44-year-old said.
"Get a tie, maybe.
"Mark played two great bowls in the first set, two big drives…and it was probably the difference in the first set to be fair."
The Moama International will continue this afternoon.
(Game 1) Sharyn Renshaw, Claire Duke & Karen Murphy (AUS) bt Jamie-Lea Winch, Sian Gordan & Sandy Hazell (ENG) 13-1, 9-7
(Game 2) Mark Bantock & Robert Newman (ENG) bt Lee Schraner & Mark Jacobsen (AUST) 14-3, 6-7, 3-1.
(Game 3) Kelsey Cottrell (AUST) bt Amy Monkhouse (ENG) 5-8, 10-2, 4-2
(Game 4) Mark Berghofer, Wayne Turley and Mark Casey (AUST) bt Merv King, Stuart Airey and Graham Shadwell (ENG) 8-5, 6-11, 5-0
(Game 5) Natasha Van Eldik & Julie Keegan (AUST) v Natalie Melmore & Julie Keegan (ENG) 1pm
(Game 6) Leif Selby (AUST) v Sam Tolchard (ENG) 3.30pm.
