Mil Lel 207 v West Gambier
A CENTURY to Mil Lel’s Josh Jantosh has put his side in good stead when it faced an undefeated West Gambier outfit in Day 1 of Round 3 of the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Barber Shield competition.
The opening batsman looked unstoppable at Frew Park, with an impressive knock of 112 off 70 overs, before he was dismissed by Ben Hentschke.
Mil Lel reached over 71 before it was all out for a defendable 207 runs.
After losing its opening two games of the season the host side had little confidence coming into the match against a dominant Roos team.
However, the tables had turned and West found it difficult to take wickets early.
Mil Lel reached a team total of 43 before the first scalp of the day was taken.
Justin Lamont left the crease on 13 after he was caught by Bowen Hosking and bowled by Ben Hentschke, which brought Jarryd Burston to the centre.
He worked well with Jantosh, rotating the strike to ensure the latter was given the best opportunity to score.
Despite making just one run before Hentschke too claimed his wicket, Burston stayed at the crease for nine overs, playing the perfect anchor role.
Jack Miller soon found his feet and made the most of every opportunity.
He reached a personal total of 10 runs before Hentschke took his third wicket of the day.
West had regained some confidence with Mil Lel sitting on 3/83.
However, it was a long wait for the next wicket.
Jantosh partnered with Daniel Justin and the two went to work.
Both batsmen found the boundary and put together an impressive partnership of 49 before Justin was clean bowled by Sam Willis on 29.
Mil lel was 4/132 and a solid score was in sight.
Justin Taylor then padded up, but West had no intentions of allowing him to stay at the crease for long.
Before Taylor was able to get too comfortable, he was dismissed – caught Sam Coxon, bowled Hosking – on just three runs.
Tim McInerney joined Jantosh at the crease and formed an impressive partnership.
The two surpassed 200 runs before McInerney was dismissed on 19 after he was caught by Tye McManus off the bowling of Richard Crute.
Mil Lel sat on 6/202 and West was struggling to contain the hosts.
However, the Roos were able to pull together and send the remaining batsmen back to the sidelines for small totals, with the exception of Jantosh.
Todd Nieuwerkerk (0), Carey Megaw (1) and Ben Thiel (2) and Jantosh (112) were all out within two overs.
Craig Lock was left wondering what could have been, not out for two runs.
Mil Lel was all out for 207 and will hope to defend its total this weekend.
Best with the ball for the Roos was Hentschke, who managed 4/42 off 14 overs, while Hosking and Crute chipped in with two scalps.
With five overs remaining to end the day’s play, West padded up.
Skipper Niall Easterbrook and Jack Gosling opened the batting and put up a solid score.
Easterbrook managed 29 not out, while Gosling finished the day with three not out.
West will hope to continue into this week and will need to post a decent tally if it is to compete with Mil Lel’s 207.
