A CONSISTENT effort which saw five batsmen reach double figures handed South Gambier the victory over a young Mil Lel outfit in Round 5 of Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association’s Twenty20 Cup competition on Friday night.
South reached a defendable 8/134 off the 20 overs to win by 58 runs after a strong showing from Josh Thompson who contributed with 32 runs and Brad Mitchell with 20.
The Demons were just as dominant with the ball, with Robbie Drenthen claiming an impressive 4/12 off four overs.
Camron Jorgenson continued his form with the ball, taking three wickets, while Bryce Whicker managed two scalps.
Mil Lel had control early, winning the toss and electing to bowl first, but that is where their dominance ended.
It took four overs for Mil Lel to claim its first wicket of the night after a strong start from South.
Openers Drenthen and Clough found the boundary early, but the latter was first to be dismissed.
A swing and a miss cost Clough his wicket for just eight runs.
Tom Nieuwerkerk caught and bowled Drenthen the next over for 13 and the visitor’s looked as though they were in the game.
Jacob Parham and Josh Thompson steadied the ship as the duo increased the team’s total to 45 before Parham was sent walking for 13.
Camron Jorgenson proved to have little impact with the bat, making just two before he was given out.
Brad Mitchell joined Thompson at the crease and found a quick 20 runs before he was sent back to the sidelines.
Thompson (32) contributed for a little longer, pushing South beyond the century mark before his time was cut short.
Liam Neshoda and Sam Von Duve had a small impact on the score, managing just four and two runs apiece.
Their dismissals allowed Nick Seager and Brodie Glynn to bat out the remaining overs.
Seager finished on an unbeaten 13, while Glynn posted 12 not out.
It was an even contribution with the ball for Mil Lel with Jack Miller, Nieuwerkerk and Jarryd Burston all claiming two apiece.
With 135 runs needed to win, it was crucial Mil Lel dug deep in the early stages of its batting innings.
However, this was not the case.
The visitor’s were 4/17 off six overs and the likelihood of a victory slim.
Jonathan Allcock and Brett Lawson gave Mil Lel some hope with an impressive 33 and 10 respectively.
But they were the only two to reach double figures in what was an otherwise disappointing performance with the bat from the visitor’s.
Mil Lel was all out in the 16th over for just 76 runs.
Meanwhile, in other games Kalangadoo easily accounted for Penola in the 11th over.
The Eagles scored a dismal 7/95 before the Magpies took control.
An unbeaten 42 to Matt Fatchen, along with a quick 24 from Mitch Lowe was all Kalangadoo needed to get over the line.
The Magpies surpassed Penola’s score in the 11th over, finishing with 3/102.
