SOUTH Gambier is in prime position to jump into finals contention after a solid innings with the bat in the final minor round of Barber Shield cricket on Saturday.
The fifth-placed Demons hosted the fourth-placed Mil Lel at Blue Lake Sports Park and managed the biggest score of the round, with a final tally of 243 runs.
The run rate was boosted by a half-century to Jacob Parham, who came in at number five and pushed the Mil Lel bowling attack, finding the boundary nine times on his way to a handy 66 runs.
It was a timely knock, with South struggling early to string a decent partnership together.
Camron Jorgenson and Matt Bowering opened proceedings after being sent in to bat by the visitors.
The pair were making solid headway, but after reaching 19 runs Jorgenson was out after offering 16 of those.
Three runs later Bowering was also back on the sidelines, with the total now at 2/22.
But from there Josh Thompson and Dylan Clough dug in for a 26-run partnership before the latter was sent on his way for 25.
Thompson was joined by Parham and the runs began to flow.
However, with just 22 more added, Thomson was sent packing, with Dane Pople heading to the middle for what would become a fruitful partnership.
The pair banged on a half-century, which saw Pople find the boundary on three occasions and clear the fence once on his way to 24 runs.
Parham continued on with Liam Neshoda and another half-century stand resulted, with the latter offering 15 of those runs.
At 6/175 things were looking rosey, but Parham departed with no further score added for a well-crafted 66.
However, Robert Drenthen then joined in the fun and began to find the fence.
Nicolas Seager came and went for 13, with 12 of those from boundaries, before Drenthen eventually departed for 36.
That left Max Lockwood and Bryce Whicker to finish proceedings off, with the latter the final wicket to fall after 71 overs with the score at 243.
The daunting total means Mil Lel will need to be on the ball from the word go this weekend, with the overnight score at 0/12 off six overs.
