South v Mil Lel
DESPERATE times call for desperate measures and South Gambier faces that exact scenario tomorrow when it hosts Mil Lel in the final minor round of Barber Shield cricket.
The Demons sit outside the top four as finals fast approach and will need to pull out all stops if they are to play finals cricket this season.
Less than two points separate South and the third-placed Mil Lel, with everything riding on this round, to be played over the next two weeks.
The Demons will surely be buoyed after their T20 final win over North Sportsman’s on Sunday, despite the different format of cricket.
Mil Lel went down to the Tigers last round on first-innings points, but after a poor first innings with the bat, made North work hard for a decent total.
Apart from a big half-century to Jake Schutz, the Tigers struggled against the Mil Lel bowling attack, with five bowlers sharing equally among the wickets.
From there they went on and put on a belated 128 with the bat in the second innings to show they can withstand some pressure.
Youngster Ben Thiel has been in good form with the ball this season and will look to continue that, along with the likes of Tom Nieuwerkerk and Justin Taylor.
If they can get off to a good start with the bat through the likes of Justin Lamont and Josh Jantosh, it could set up a decent platform for Craig Lock and further down the order Caleb Bachmann to continue on.
However, this week will certainly test their mettle, with real pressure for a finals spot.
South was always going to struggle last round against West Gambier, chasing a big total of 349.
While the Demons were out in the 50th over, they did bang on 177 runs in that time, with a big half-century to Dylan Clough and a couple of good starts at the top of the order from Matt Bowering and Josh Thompson.
It is fair to say they did struggle with the ball against such a brutal batting performance by the Ross, but with the likes of Robbie Drenthen, Clough and Camron Jorgenson – to name just a few – in good form, there is certainly no shortage of firepower.
South has the home-ground advantage at Blue Lake Sports Park, although that will mean little in such an important game.
Both sides have the firepower with bat and ball to match each other and which ever side can take control tomorrow will be in the box seat.
