Penola 139 d South Gambier 92
PENOLA claimed its second win of the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Barber Shield season with a convincing 47-run victory over South Gambier at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday.
Due to the heavy rain which hit the South East prior to the opening day of Round 4 last weekend, the day of cricket was cancelled.
As a result Saturday’s games were played in a limited-overs format.
Michael Waters was a big contributor to the victory after an impressive day with the ball which saw him claim 5/18 off 7.1 overs.
Penola won the toss and as a result elected to bat.
It was a slow start for the Eagles with the first wicket falling in the third over.
Opener Lewis March managed just four runs before Camron Jorgenson knocked his wicket from the ground.
The trend continued with David Somerfield dismissed for just one run – caught Sam Phelan, bowled Bryce Whicker.
Jack Schulz was next to pad up and he worked well with opener Jase Bateman to form a quick increase in the run rate.
However, once Penola reached 34 in the eighth over both Schulz (23) and Bateman (4) were sent walking.
The next over saw Mark Smith dismissed for a duck and the Eagles’ likelihood of a victory looked to be a challenge.
But Penola turned the game around and it was George Kidman who led the way.
Kidman and Evans worked hard to change the Eagles’ fate and added a quick 29 runs to the total.
This was before Evans was bowled by Robbie Drenthen on 12.
Tom Clayfield was next to pad up.
Clayfield ran hard between the wickets to contribute 11 runs to his side’s total prior to losing his wicket.
As a result Waters then entered the clash.
However, his partnership with Kidman was short-lived after the latter was stumped by Phelan off the bowling of Matthew Bowering on a credible 38 runs.
Waters steadied the ship after Kidman’s dismissal, but Brad Maney (5) and Conrad Slabber (7) were unable to hold onto their wickets.
Waters finished on 16 not out, while the side posted 139 runs in 35 overs.
Best with the ball for South was Drenthen with three scalps, while Bryce Whicker and Jorgenson contributed two each.
Still well and truly in the game the Demons were eager to put together a solid performance with the bat.
However, Penola had other ideas.
Waters claimed his first of many wickets in the second over of the day.
Phelan was sent walking for a duck after he was caught and bowled by Waters.
Shortly after – in the sixth over – the next wicket fell.
This time it was Dylan Clough (1) also at the expense of Walters.
South then found its form and held off a charging Penola outfit until the 12th over.
Opener Jorgenson made 11 runs in the 12 overs before he was dismissed off a Maney delivery.
With three wickets down and just 12 overs completed, South’s chances of a win looked slim.
The trend continued with Liam Neshoda sent walking for a meagre two runs.
Dane Pople gave South some life with a quick 17 runs, but his early dismissal left his side with little hope.
The Maroons continued to chip away and increase their total one run at a time, but wickets continued to fall.
Drenthen (5), Kuhl (10), Shaun Lockwood (0) and Henry Riddoch (1) had little impact on the scoreboard.
Matthew Bowering gave South a chance at reaching Penola’s total, finding the boundary on a number of occasions to make a credible 32 runs.
However, Waters claimed the important wicket with four overs remaining and as a result the Eagles took the points.
In the end South made just 92 runs in 36 overs.
Waters was a standout with the ball, but Kidman and Slabber also contributed with two wickets apiece, while Maney managed one.
