THE second half of the Mount Gambier and District cricket Barber Shield season will kick off tomorrow, with West Gambier to host Mil Lel at Malseed Park for Round 6.
With Mil Lel currently sitting in fifth position, the side will be hungry for its second win of 2017-18.
However, this will be a big ask as it takes to the pitch against the second-placed Roos on their home ground and in hot summer conditions.
Returning to the one-day format tomorrow, the previous meeting between the sides was a two-day clash at Frew Park in Round 3.
This game saw the Roos come out on top, despite Mil Lel’s Josh Jantosh posting an impressive 112 runs on day one.
West’s Ben Hentschke was in good form to claim four scalps, while Bowen Hosking and Richard Crute also did well to bag two each.
Each of these players have proven dangerous with the ball so far this season and will no doubt look to make an impact again tomorrow.
Hentschke will be eager to replicate his performance from the Round 3 clash, while Crute will also look to uphold his current form, after he bagged four wickets in the previous round.
The last round saw Sam Willis fall just shy of a half-century with 49 runs.
He will look to better this tally tomorrow, while Tye McManus will be out to match his game-high 61 from last round.
The two will be joined by captain Niall Easterbrook (20) and Crute (11) as they aim to contribute double figures again this round.
For Mil Lel, Jantosh’s century was the highlight of Round 3, as his teammates struggled to hold their own at the crease.
Despite this, Daniel Justin was able to make a respectable 29, while Tim McInerney carded 19 and Justin Lamont finished with 13.
However, if Mil Lel is to stand a chance tomorrow, it will need to see a shared effort from all its batsmen, as West’s bowlers will be unforgiving in their hunt for win number five.
Tom Nieuwerkerk and Justin Taylor led the way with the ball for Mil Lel against the Roos last time with three scalps each, while Jack Miller claimed two.
Add young gun Ben Thiel into the mix and Mil Lel should be well equipped to face the might of the Roos’ batsmen.
With a single wicket against West in Round 3, the following rounds saw Thiel with three and five-wicket hauls.
The young star will be hungry to add another solid performance to his 2017-18 record when he picks up the ball tomorrow and could be a deciding factor in the match.
However, West will be the favourite going into the clash, as it has earned its second place in the standings and will be in good form to deny its guests the victory.
The outcome of the toss could see an advantage for either team, but the Roos should secure their fifth win of the season providing the heat policy is not enforced and play gets underway.
