Mount Gambier 1/152 d Portland 150
MOUNT Gambier and District Cricket Association ensured the President’s Cup remained in South Australia when it played Victorian rivals Portland in a one-day 40-over clash at Frew Park on Sunday.
Mount Gambier passed Portland’s total of 150 in the 32nd over with nine wickets still in hand.
David Somerfield put on an impressive show with the bat and ball to put the game beyond doubt.
When the match was up in the air Somerfield claimed 5/22 off seven overs before padding up and reaching an unbeaten 85 runs to contribute to the eventual score of 152.
Despite Somerfield’s dominance, the match did not go Mount Gambier’s way early.
Portland won the toss and elected to bat first in the warm conditions and started well.
The coastal-based team looked dominant early.
Mount Gambier was able to claim just two wickets in the first 15 overs of the clash and Portland had made its way to 40 runs.
The third much-needed scalp came in 26th over, but with seven wickets still in hand and 116 runs already on the board, the hosts looked in trouble.
However, Mount Gambier’s bowlers stepped things up a notch and the wickets began to tumble.
The dismissal of Portland’s Jarrod Holt was a match-winner for Mount Gambier, after the batsmen reached a credible 56 runs.
The visitors were on 135 when his wicket was taken, which triggered a collapse, with just 15 runs added before the final five scalps were taken.
In eight overs Mount Gambier had taken six wickets in what was an impressive team performance led by Somerfield.
His five wickets gave the hosts some breathing space, but he was well supported by Dylan Clough who managed 2/5 off three overs, along with Alex Hentschke and Michael Waters who claimed one scalp apiece.
With 151 for victory, the hosts entered into their batting innings with confidence the cup would remain in their hands.
Mount Gambier captain Jake Schutz and Jase Bateman padded up and opened proceedings.
The two started slow and found their feet before they looked for the boundary.
A total of 12 overs went by before the first and only wicket fell.
Bateman was caught behind on 19 runs.
With a team total of 39, Somerfield entered the clash and worked well with Schutz, with good running between the wickets and boundaries when the opportunity presented.
Schutz rotated the strike to allow Somerfield the majority of the scoring.
With 20 overs down and 20 still remaining, Mount Gambier came out of the break with confidence it would get the job done.
The hosts score was 1/71 and as a result the batting duo went to work.
Somerfield found the boundary on a number of occasions and Mount Gambier’s total increased rapidly.
At the end of the 31st over, the hosts had reached 148 runs and a four to Somerfield in the next over lifted the total to 152 to hand Mount Gambier an easy victory.
Somerfield reached a personal total of 85 not out, while Schutz also managed an unbeaten 40.
Schutz said he was pleased with the effort of the side.
“I was happy with the way the game went, but in saying that, we did not have the best start,” he said.
“They were 2 for 120-odd, but we were able to peg them back to 150, which was a really good effort.
“They had a couple of good players and it is hard when you match up against sides like Portland as you do not know who those good players are.”
Schutz said he was most impressed with Somerfield’s damage control with the ball.
“Dave Somerfield was in really good form,” he said.
“We were pretty confident when they made 150 because initially I was thinking they were going to make 180-200.
“So to keep them to 150 was a good effort by the team.”
A slow outfield stopped some big hits from rolling over the boundary, but Schutz said he had confidence in his side before padding up.
“Dave Somerfield wan unbelievable with the bat and Jase worked really hard at the start,” he said.
“We were really happy at the half-way mark with nine wicket still in hand because we bat right down to 11, so we had confidence we would get over the line.
“To go through the day just one wicket down was a really good effort.
“I was very happy with the way it all went.”
Acting as a trial for the Country Cup Carnival in Adelaide early next year, Schutz said he expected the South East to again be strong.
“It will not be the exact same team that goes to the carnival in Adelaide as we still have a few to come back into the side,” he said.
“We will have a squad and pick 14 from there.
“I expect us to have another really strong side, which will be good.”
