Penola 3/108 d West Gambier 86
PENOLA has earned itself a Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association Barber Shield grand final berth after a convincing victory over West Gambier at Malseed Park on the weekend.
The Eagles had failed to take the points in their two minor round clashes with the Roos, but put their best foot forward when it counted.
West claimed the first clash between the two sides, while Penola sat in the box seat to take the premiership points in the final minor round game, but was forced to settle for a tie.
The Eagles were determined to limit their mistakes this weekend and put everything on the line to take the honours.
A four-wicket haul from George Kidman on the opening day gave the Eagles some confidence.
He was well backed by Jack Mullan who managed three scalps.
However, it was not all Penola’s way on Saturday as West took control early, winning the toss and electing to bat first.
The Roos’ skipper Niall Easterbrook batted his way to 22 runs before Brad Maney sent him walking.
But for West, it was a captain’s knock, the best the Roos would see for the day.
Fellow opener Bowen Hosking was dismissed in the same over and suddenly West was 2/30.
Jake Blackwell and Shane Stevens gave the Roos some hope, but it was short-lived.
Blackwell was first to leave the crease on 11 runs, while Stevens went slightly further, posting 15 before Mullan sent him back to the sidelines.
West sat on 4/58 and it was crucial incoming batsmen Richard Crute and Ben Hentschke held their wickets and increased the run-rate.
The two were patient and ran hard, while also finding the boundary on the odd occasion.
However, Mullan and Kidman’s tight bowling caused the Roos to come unstuck.
Crute was dismissed for 14, which allowed Sam Willis to join Hentschke at the crease.
Willis contributed just two runs before he was given out.
Hentschke’s (7) wicket came a short time later and West was in real trouble at 7/86, with a grand final berth slipping through their fingers.
Penola’s bowling attack was too much for the Roos to handle and the final three wickets fell before West could add to its score.
Jack Geddes (0), Josh Cornolo (4) and Lachlan Brown (0) struggled to make runs.
The Roos posted just 86 runs off 51 overs before it was all out and had little chance of reaching the major game.
Kidman was best with the ball for Penola, managing an impressive 4/1 off 6.5 overs.
The Eagles padded up, determined to seal the game early.
Jake Schulz and Jack Mullan opened the batting and put Penola in good stead early.
The two ran hard between the wickets and found the boundary on the odd occasion to reach 44 runs before West claimed its first scalp.
Schulz was clean bowled by Willis for 17 runs, with Penola captain Jase Bateman then entering the game.
He and Mullan put the match beyond doubt with an impressive display at the crease.
Mullan’s time was cut short by Crute, but the Eagle still reached an impressive 43 runs to back up his three-wicket performance with the ball.
Penola sat on 2/82 and needed just five runs on Sunday to earn itself a grand final berth.
Bateman and David Somerfield reached the total before the latter was dismissed for two runs.
Bateman and Kidman batted out a few overs and the side reached 108 runs in 39 overs before it pulled up stumps.
Shane Dycer, Willis and Crute claimed a wicket each.
Penola will now prepare for its grand final appearance against reigning champions North Sportsman’s at Frew Park this weekend.
