WHILE it was a comfortable victory to West Gambier in Round 3 of Barber Shield cricket, Mil Lel certainly put up a fight.
A lack of top-order scores saw Mil Lel out for just 120 runs in the 39th over, but the bowling attack made the Roos work hard for their runs.
In the end West did it easy, but a four-wicket haul to Tom Nieuwerkerk provided some hope for Mil Lel.
Unfortunately the meagre total allowed West to easily reach the target and push beyond.
The Roos won the toss and sent Mil Lel in to bat, with the hope to claim some quick wickets and apply pressure early.
That is how it would pan out, with Josh Jantosh first to go for no score with the total at just three.
Fellow opener Justin Lamont followed soon after, with just seven runs to his name.
When Jarryd Burston went for eight with the total at just 18, Mil Lel was struggling, with a steady hand needed to curb the carnage.
That came through Jonathan Allcock and Carey Megaw, who added a handy 16-run partnership before the latter fell to Josh Cornolo for just nine runs.
But from there Daniel Justin joined Allcock in the middle and pair set about creating a useful partnership.
It would prove fruitful, with 44 runs coming before Justin was sent back to the sidelines after contributing 26 runs.
Allcock also reached 26, but when he departed Mil Lel sat at 7/90, with little left in the tank.
Nieuwerkerk managed 11, while Shannon Megaw also reached double figures with 10.
But with just 120 on the board Mil Lel needed to push hard with the ball against a tough West batting lineup.
The first breakthrough came when Bowen Hosking was sent on his way with the total at just 10.
Hosking managed just one of those, but his departure brought Jake Blackwell to the middle and the Roos began to find their way.
Blackwell and Bray Stephenson fell short of a half-century partnership, but contributed 42 runs before the former was sent back to the shed with 20 to his name.
Stephenson fell soon after for 27, but again the runs continued to flow.
Sam Willis and Ben Hentschke dug in to enjoy a 31-run partnership, with Willis contributing 24 before his departure.
Hentschke went on to add 22, with Richard Crute contributing an unbeaten 29 down the order.
In the end West batted out the full 40 overs to finish at 7/164.
Nieuwerkerk’s 4/22 was the best for Mil Lel with the ball, while for West, Willis, Crute, Hosking and Cornolo all managed two wickets.
