Penola 148 d Mil Lel 71
A FIVE-WICKET haul from David Somerfield all-but handed Penola a convincing victory over Mil Lel in Round 8 of Mount Gambier and District Barber Shield cricket at Frew Park on Saturday.
Mil Lel won the toss and elected to bat first, but from there it was the Eagles who took control.
Captain Jase Bateman and George Kidman made an impact from the first delivery, then found the boundary on a the odd occasion to quickly boost Penola’s score.
The Eagles’ first wicket came at 36 runs where Bateman was dismissed for nine.
Kidman reached 24 before he was too given out and Mil Lel’s tight bowling put a halt to Penola’s free-flow scoring.
A duck to Somerfield was the start of a purple patch for Mil Lel, who also took the important wickets of Jack Mullan (1) and Jack Schulz (6).
Penola was 5/57 and looked to be in trouble.
However, Mark Smith and Lewis March steadied the ship.
The two ran hard between the wickets and kept the score ticking over, while holding their wickets for seven overs and a partnership of 22 runs.
Smith was first to return to the sidelines for 10 runs after he was caught by Craig Lock off Justin Taylor.
Curt Evans joined March at the crease and the duo continued to increase the team’s total until the latter was also sent walking off a Taylor delivery for 18.
Evans and Wayne Mitchell were feeling the pressure with the bat.
Penola had just 11 overs remaining and was yet to reach 100 runs.
Some quick singles and the odd boundary saw the Eagles’ total increase and before Mitchell’s wicket fell it had reached 131.
Mitchell managed a personal tally of 15, but was outdone by Evans who reached 28 before he was dismissed.
Michael Waters and Conrad Slabber padded up in hope to bat out the remaining overs.
However, the duo fell just short and Penola was all out with just two balls remaining.
Waters managed an unbeaten 14, while Slabber was run out on zero.
There was no standout player for Penola, but luckily for the visitor’s six batsmen were able to put together double figure scores.
The Eagles finished the day with 148 runs and needed to put in a big effort in the field to take the points.
Best with the ball for Mil Lel was young Tom Nieuwerkerk who took 3/32 off eight overs.
Coming into their batting innings, Mil Lel was in the game, but a dismal start from the host’s soon put the match into the Eagles’ favour.
Mil Lel had just two runs on the board before Evans claimed the first wicket of Todd Carpenter (2).
There was a short break between scalps, but an impressive over for Somerfield – which saw him take three wickets – gave the host’s little hope.
Carey Megaw was clean bowled on three, while Jonathan Allcock and Daniel Justin were next, both for ducks.
Mil Lel was 4/14 in the sixth over and the match looked as though it would be over early.
Opener Tim McInerney was doing his best to steady the ship, but his team mates around him continued to give up their wickets.
Jack Miller was Somerfield’s next victim after contributing just three runs to the team’s total.
McInerney and Lock gave Mil Lel some hope, but just 12 runs were added to the team’s total before the former was dismissed for nine.
Mil Lel was 6/32 by the 16th over and the likelihood of a victory was diminishing.
Caleb Bachmann and Justin Taylor provided small scores of three and one to the team’s total and Penola’s confidence continued to grow.
Nieuwerkerk joined Lock at the crease and the two slightly minimised the damage.
Lock reached 18 runs before he was caught by Kidman off a Waters delivery, while Nieuwerkerk made 14 before he was dismissed by March.
Ben Thiel was left wondering what could have been on an unbeaten three.
Mil Lel was all out in the 33rd over for 71 due to an impressive bowling and fielding effort from Penola.
The Eagles’ front-runner with the ball was Somerfield, but he was well supported by Waters who claimed two wickets, as well as Evans and March who managed one scalp apiece.
