MILLICENT was certainly no match for North Sportsman’s in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association Twenty20 Cup clash at Marist Park last Wednesday night.
It took just over eight overs for the Tigers to surpass Millicent’s score of 74.
The quick victory was much due to Matthew McInerney’s solid innings with the bat.
He was comfortable at the crease from the outset, scoring an eventual 59 of North’s eventual 75 runs.
Millicent won the toss and elected to bat first, but North’s tight bowling saw the wickets fall early.
The first wicket fell after just nine runs were made, the next at 10 and the following at 11.
It did not look good for Millicent until captain John Facey padded up.
He was able to give the Saints some relief, posting a quick 27 runs.
However, there was little input from the remainder of the side with Tyson Smith (13) and Ben Gordon (19) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
While North claimed just six wickets from the 20 overs, its tight bowling meant the boundary was difficult to find, resulting the unfortunate 6/74 score.
Best with the ball for the Tigers was Michael Johnston who managed 2/5 off four overs, while captain Tim Young also managed a two wicket haul.
North certainly had the momentum coming into its innings with the bat.
However, a duck to opener Declan Kenny slowed things down slightly.
His dismissal saw McInerney pad up and join Jake Schutz at the crease.
Schutz played the anchor role, but also managed a four to increase his run rate slightly.
But it was mainly McInerney who found the gaps in the field.
Off one over he powered the ball across the boundary for four on four consecutive occasions skyrocketing North’s total in a short time.
In the ninth over the duo reached the winning total of 75 – their partnership as many runs.
Schutz finished with 15, supporting McInerney to his credible 59.
Ben Gordon was the only Millicent player to claim a wicket.
