SOUTH 267 d EAST 6/202, 1/8
SOUTH Gambier recorded its first win of the 2017-18 Barber Shield cricket season with an easy win over East Gambier on the back of a Dylan Clough century and a timely half-century to Robbie Drenthen down the order.
South was chasing an average 203 runs for victory, but with a lack-lustre opening to the season were no guarantee of claiming the points.
Nathan Gore was on target for East, claiming five scalps in an unrewarded effort with the ball.
The opening stand of 35 from Camron Jorgenson and Sam Phelan was cut short when the latter was caught behind by Dion Stratford off the bowling of Luke Allen for 21.
Clough them joined Jorgenson in the middle and the pair pushed on.
However, Gore chipped in for his first wicket, beating the bat of Jorgenson, with Stratford whipping the bails off for a much-needed wicket.
With 71 runs on the board, there was no reason for panic, but South lost its next two batsmen for just three runs, with both Luke Zadow and Liam Neshoda going for ducks – Zadow clean bowled by Gore and Neshoda lbw to Alex Hentschke.
From there the Demons settled through Dane Pople, who scratched together 10 runs, while rotating the strike to push the team total along to 118.
With five wickets down things were starting to look shaky for South and when Adam Kuhl went without offering a score, the rot continued.
Clough had continued to push the score along, but an accurate delivery from Hentschke sent Kuhl on his way with the total now at 137.
South continued to edge forward, with the comfort of Drenthen and Matt Bowering down the order.
Between Clough and Drenthen the target was reached, with the former’s century achieved once the victory had been secured.
He fell for 102 runs, caught off the bowling of Gore, but achieved an innings that defined the victory as the wickets fell around him.
Drenthen went on to reach 78 before Gore accounted for him, with Bowering not out for 13.
Gore’s five-wicket haul came at some expense (5/56 off 14 overs), with the big hitting Clough and Drenthen paying little respect to his efforts.
Gore’s effort was complemented by Hentschke’s two wickets.
In a day out Gore also chipped in with a catch.
