PENOLA continued its 2018-19 Mount Gambier and District cricket form last Thursday with a comfortable victory over Millicent in Round 1 of the Big Bash Twenty20 competition.
Two half-centuries – to Jack Schulz and Dave Somerfield – set the scene for the win, with the Eagles’ bowlers backing up their batsmen to limit Millicent’s scoring opportunities.
Penola won the toss and elected to bat on its home deck at McCorquindale Park, with the runs flowing immediately.
Mark Smith and Schulz opened proceedings with a 41-run partnership, with both finding the boundary regularly.
Smith was first to go, but not before he reached a handy 20 runs.
From there the carnage began, with Somerfield and Schulz finding the boundary at will to build a 75-run partnership.
With the score at 116 Schulz headed back to the shed, but his 50 runs included four fours and two sixes.
Somerfield kept the runs flowing with Jack Mullan and with 164 on the board he too was sent on his way.
But his short-format style was well on display, with his 75 runs including seven fours and four sixes.
Mullan went on to reach 18 runs, while Michael Waters was next best with 10.
In the end the Eagles set Millicent a target of 188 runs for victory, but the visitors fell well short.
After 20 overs Millicent finished with 9/121.
Josh Doyle was a thorn in their side with the ball, although a touch expensive, claiming three wickets for 31 runs off his four overs.
Waters finished with 2/20, while Mullan, Smith and Tyson Murphy managed one wicket each.
