IT has been a long time coming – 28 years to be exact – since the Penola Cricket Club has won the prestigious Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association Barber Shield grand final, but that all changed Sunday when the Eagles outplayed reigning champions North Sportsman’s in the grand final at Frew Park.
Penola posted 139 runs on Saturday and held North to just 102, claiming the win by 37 runs on Sunday afternoon.
A 43 from Jack Schulz on Day 1 had the Eagles on the front foot, a performance that was well backed by Conrad Slabber on Sunday, who contributed with four wickets.
The Eagles were the “underdogs” entering the grand final, but went into the clash with optimism.
Captain Jase Bateman set the tone early, winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Penola openers Schulz and Jack Mullan found their feet at the crease.
A slow outfield made it hard for the pair to find the boundary, but the two big-hitters soon gave the large Eagles’ crowd something to cheer about.
However, a swing in celebrations was the result of Mullan’s wicket.
Penola was sitting on 49 runs before Matt McInerney relieved some pressure after he caught and bowled Mullan for 19.
It was a lucky escape for the Tigers as Mullan looked settled at the crease and contributed to Penola’s score with a pair of fours prior to his dismissal.
Bateman then played a supportive role to Schulz, who was finding the boundary at will.
Schulz reached 43 runs before he was caught by Matthew Robinson off a Michael Johnston delivery just prior to drinks and the momentum shifted into North’s camp.
The Eagles’ middle-order was dominated by the Tigers, due to the tight bowling of Declan Kenny.
Unlike his form in previous games this year, David Somerfield was in and out for one run.
Kenny then took the ball and ripped through Penola’s batting line-up.
He dismissed the skipper for just nine runs, before sending Lewis March – on his 21st birthday – back to the sidelines for a golden duck.
The Eagles were 5/77 and it was crucial veteran George Kidman steadied the ship.
However, finding a team mate who could keep their wicket was proving difficult.
Mark Smith (1) and Curt Evans (1) were both dismissed by Kenny and North looked as though it had a firm grip on the contest.
But Penola bounced back through Michael Waters and Kidman, who put together a timely 41-run partnership to keep the Eagles in with a chance.
The duo ran hard between the wickets, but also displayed some powerful shots to find the boundary.
Penola, once again, looked in form, but the untimely wicket of Kidman put the Eagles on shaky ground.
Brad Maney then padded up to face the music, rotating the strike to ensure Waters could continue his form.
The duo looked solid, but a misjudged ball saw Kenny claim yet another wicket, this time Maney’s (8).
Penola’s time at the crease was over when Kenny managed his second lot of consecutive wickets for the game, sending Slabber back to the sideline for a golden duck.
Waters put together an impressive unbeaten 30.
Kenny was a game-changer with the ball, claiming 6/14 off 12 overs, while both Matthew McInerney and Johnston contributed with two wickets each.
With 139 runs on the board from 64 overs, the game was well and truly up in the air.
After a long and hot afternoon in the field, North sent Johnston and Robinson in as night watchmen, saving the powerful duo of Matt McInerney and Jake Schutz for day two.
The Tigers hoped the duo could bat out the remaining 13 overs of the day, with both playing safe and strategic shots.
However, an impressive fielding effort from Evans saw him throw the ball at an almost impossible angle from square leg to hit the stumps and run Robinson out for four.
Tom Edwards joined Johnston for the remainder of the day and the two increased the total to 1/15 before stumps.
DAY TWO
THE match was still up in the air coming into day two, North still had its top-order batsmen in tact.
However, Penola was bowling tight and it was not long before the next wicket fell.
Edwards was clean bowled by Mullan on six, which saw the Bill Whitty medallist and batsman of the year Schutz stroll to the crease.
Penola brought in its field close and the pressure began to mount.
A Mullan delivery had Schutz caught by Evans at silly mid on for just three runs and the Penola crowd erupted.
North was 3/32 and the Eagles had the momentum.
Matthew McInerney knew he had to dig deep to claw the Tigers back into the contest.
He and Johnston steadied the ship with some quick singles and safe shots.
But the partnership was short-lived.
Johnston was dismissed after a solid performance, which saw him put together 24 runs after a long 54 overs at the crease, while McInerney went on to produce a quick-fire 41 before he was caught in the outfield by Bateman off a Slabber delivery.
With two of North’s most damaging batsmen – Schutz and McInerney – out of the game, the Eagles could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Tigers were 5/84 and a big effort from its bottom order was needed if they were to get over the line.
Nick McInerney was in and out for just four runs and Gavin Coon tried to steady the game, but with ducks to Brad Robinson, Jack Armfield and Declan Kenny, North was in trouble.
It was up to Coon and North skipper Tim Young to bring the game home.
However, Kidman soon sealed the match for the Eagles when he clean bowled the Tigers’ captain for just one run and Penola celebrated.
Slabber was best with the ball, claiming 4/28 off 15 overs, while Mullan was next best with three wickets and Kidman with two.
