PENOLA claimed a comfortable 129-run victory over Mil Lel at McCorquindale Park in Round 5 of Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association’s Barber Shield competition on Saturday.
In attempt to reach the 223, Mil Lel had to get off to a solid start.
However, that was easier said than done.
Penola’s Michael Waters took care of the opening wicket, sending Craig Lock back to the boundary for a disappointing one run.
Mil Lel then stepped things up a notch with Josh Jantosh and Carey Megaw making their way into double figures.
The duo put together a solid partnership of 36 before Megaw was clean bowled by David Somerfield for 21.
Jantosh followed shortly after – also clean bowled – but this time by Penola skipper Jase Bateman after reaching 17 runs.
Mil Lel was 3/43 and the likelihood of a victory looked slim.
Jonathan Allcock and Daniel Justin ran hard between the wickets in order to give their side hope.
However, Bateman soon cut Justin’s time at the crease short.
He was caught by Mark Smith off a quick Bateman delivery for just 12 runs.
Allcock was next to return to the sidelines on 13 after George Kidman knocked over his wicket.
With five wickets still in hand and 71 runs on the board, Mil Lel was still in the game, but it was going to take a big effort.
However, the nerves were obvious at the crease as the visitors began to crumble.
Jack Miller returned to the sidelines on two and while Todd Carpenter was finding ways to make runs, his time at the crease was cut short when he was run out on 18.
The wickets continued to fall quickly with Ben Theil (0) and Tom Nieuwerkerk (6) struggling with the pace of the Penola bowlers.
With nine wickets down, Mil Lel was unable to go on as their 11th man Peter Baker was too sick to take to the crease.
In the end 94 was all Mil Lel could manage, falling significantly short of Penola’s total.
On the other hand, the Eagles were pleased with their team performance in the field.
Somerfield was best with the ball claiming 2/26, while Waters, Bateman, Kidman and Jack Mullan chipped in with a wicket each.
With overs still remaining in the day, Penola went back in to bat with nothing to lose.
The Eagles reached 60 runs in the 21 overs, but had five wickets fall during the process.
Somerfield and Mullan opened the batting but managed just five and 10 respectively before Allcock sent them walking.
The story was much the same for Wayne Mitchell (0) and Lewis March (7) who lost their wickets at the expense of Allcock’s accurate bowling.
Dermot Moore was at the crease for a short time before he was sent back to the sidelines with a duck after he was caught by Jantosh and bowled by Nieuwerkerk.
It was then up to Bateman and Mark Smith to bat out the remaining overs.
The duo ran hard between the wickets to put together a 30-run partnership in nine overs.
Bateman finished on 12 not out, while Smith chipped in with an unbeaten 17.
While Mil Lel was behind, Allcock’s 4/12 off seven overs was impressive.
Penola will now head into the break with confidence, while Mil Lel will go back to the drawing board as it sits just out of the top four.
