North Sportsmen’s 0/211 d East Gambier 110
NORTH Sportsmen’s continued its dominance in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association Barber Shield competition after its big win over East Gambier at McDonald Park on Saturday.
Veteran Michael Johnston’s dominance with both the bat and ball helped ensure a victory for the Tigers, while a century to opening bat Jake Schutz was also a highlight, in a run chase that saw no wickets fall.
The host’s won the toss and elected to bat first, sending the reigning champions to field.
East’s Peter Kerr and Darren Whitehorn opened the batting, but it was not long before the latter was sent walking.
Whitehord added just five runs to the team total before a delivery from Josh Fidler was caught in the field by Schutz.
Skipper Dion Stratford padded up to test his luck against the pace of the North bowlers.
Stratford and Kerr extended the team total to 27 before the second wicket of the day fell.
This time it was at the expense of Kerr, lbw to Michael Silvy for just 14 runs.
Stratford and Ashley Dumigan were both dismissed on 11, caught Matthew Robinson, bowled Johnston.
The trend continued when a Luke Hocking delivery saw Alex Hentschke stumped by wicketkeeper Tom Edwards, while also on 11.
At 5/65 the likelihood of an East victory looked slim.
Edwards caught another batsmen – Emerson Marks – out of his crease and stumped him for two runs, while Connor Little was sent walking for a duck, also from a stumping.
Simon Golebiowski joined Nathan Gore at the crease, but it was not long before the latter was clean bowled by Johnston for eight runs.
Johnston then combined again with Robinson and sent Luke Allen back to the bench for a solitary run.
The overs were running short and the desire to make quick runs increased.
Scott Allen soon found his feet at the crease and partnered well with Golebiowski.
Allen found the boundary on two occasions, while Golebiowski’s final ball was a four.
The two were able to boost the team’s total to 110 before Golebiowski was caught by Brad Close off the bowling of Fidler for 12.
Allen was left wondering what could have been with an innings-high 15 not out.
Best with the ball for the Tigers was Johnston who managed an impressive five scalps, while giving up just 11 runs, while Hocking and Fidler both chipped in with two and Silvy one.
In the end East was all out in the 39th over and went into the field with the hope to keep North from a dominant performance.
However, that was easier said than done.
It was a long afternoon in the field for the Bulldogs, who bowled the full 40 overs, but failed to take a solitary wicket.
North opener’s Johnston and Schutz batted the entire afternoon and contributed solidly to the Tigers’ eventual victory.
Johnston added 91 runs to the total while Schutz made a century.
In the end North completed the 40 overs with 211 runs.
The Tigers will now turn their focus to a two-day match with Penola at McCorquindale Park, while East Gambier will face South Gambier.
