NORTH Sportsman’s cricketers would be ruing lost opportunities after a solid start to the final Barber Shield minor round against East Gambier on Saturday.
While the Tigers sit at the top of the ladder, an unexpected loss to East is something they do not need at this time of the season.
However, it could well be the case, after posting just 130 runs at Marist Park, all out in the 59th over on day one of play.
It was a huge effort from East’s Alex Hentschke, who claimed 4/36 from 15 overs and set the home side a tough day two this weekend.
North won the toss and elected to bat, then appeared to settle in, with openers Matt McInerney and Jake Schutz working well, finding the boundary almost at will, with McInerney the aggressor.
It took 44 runs before East could claim the first scalp, after McInerney had worked his way to 33 runs, when Hentschke struck, having him caught by Emerson Marks.
Just one more run was added before the incoming Brad Robinson was sent on his way, caught by Nathan Gore off another Hentschke delivery.
Gavin Coon joined Schutz at the crease and the pair also appeared to settle, adding a further 15 runs before the partnership was broken when Schutz was caught behind by Dion Stratford off Luke Allen.
At 3/60, North looked vulnerable and when Michael Johnston was judged lbw off Gore, it began look worse.
Then with the total at 98, both Elliot Fisher and Gavin Coon departed.
Fisher had only contributed two runs before he fell to Marks, but Coon had looked damaging, adding 23 to the total before Thomas Miles sent him on his way.
Much was riding on the input of Nick McInerney and Tom Edwards, but the latter was clean bowled by Hentschke for seven and the former was judged lbw to Ash Dumigan for 14 and the Tigers were fast running out of options.
In the end just 130 was all they could muster, with Hentschke’s four wickets, joined by Dumigan’s two in a positive day for the Bulldogs.
East headed in to bat and finished the day at 1/29 after 18 overs.
Stratford opened the batting and was out for four runs, while Peter Kerr and Marks remain at the crease on 17 and six respectively.
