NORTH Gambier opened its Barber Shield cricket season with a stinging victory over Mil Lel, with the latter unable to reach a half-century total.
The win came after North was all out for just 131, with only Nick McInerney offering any real resistance to the Mil Lel bowling attack.
His 44 runs in the middle order helped set up a defendable total, but in the end it was not really required, as the North bowlers simply tore the Mil Lel batting lineup apart.
The day did not start well for North after winning the toss and electing to bat.
The returning Mitch Lewis was out for three, with just five runs on the board, caught off a Ben Thiel delivery.
With another 29 runs added to the total Kayne Badman was sent on his way, clean bowled by Jonathan Allcock for just seven runs and the Tigers looked in trouble.
When captain Matt McInerney came and went, lbw to Allcock for no score, it looked like a tough day ahead for North.
Things did not improve, with opener Jake Schutz gone for 24, caught and bowled by Tom Nieuwerkerk and when Michael Johnston fell just five runs later, the scoreboard read 5/54 and the Tigers needed to dig deep.
Nick McInerney and Justin McConnell dug in, but the latter returned to the shed with just 11 to his name, caught off a dangerous Jack Miller.
Miller struck again, but not before North had passed the 100-run mark, with Matt Robinson also contributing 11 runs when his stumps were knocked over.
From there it was a matter of chasing whatever balls came along, with only five overs remaining and just 117 runs on the board.
When Nick McInerney became another victim of Miller it was all-but over for the Tigers, who fell with just 36.1 overs completed.
Miller was best with the ball, claiming four scalps, while Allcock finished with three.
That left Mil Lel with some hope of an upset victory, but it all went pear-shaped early in the innings.
Jarryd Burston was first to go for just four runs, clean bowled by Declan Kenny with the total also at four.
With no further score added, Todd Carpenter was sent on his way in the same fashion.
One run later Allcock had his stumps knocked over by Tim Young, with a solitary run beside his name.
Badman held a catch off Kenny to dismiss Daniel Justin for three runs, with Mil Lel then finally in double figures, but only just.
When Josh Jantosh was stumped by Tom Edwards off a Johnston delivery, the score was only 20 and Mil Lel was in real trouble.
Nieuwerkerk was the only batsman to resist the onslaught, but with no support around him the wickets continued to tumble, as did any hope of an upset victory.
Mil Lel captain Craig Lock was the only remaining batsman to score, with just four to his name before the tail simply fell over.
In the end the 29 runs was a disastrous result for Mil Lel, with just 20 overs faced.
North used just four bowlers to dispatch Mil Lel, with Kenny claiming five wickets, while Johnston and Badman managed two each.
