MOUNT Gambier and District Big Bash Twenty20 cricket reigning premier South Gambier showed it will again be a force to be reckoned with last Thursday.
The Demons took care of Mil Lel in the opening-round clash at Frew Park after they set an impressive total of 225 runs, which could not be matched by the hosts.
Opening batsman Robbie Drenthen and sixth in the order Luke Zadow made the bulk of runs, with 78 and 87-not out respectively.
Drenthen opened alongside Dylan Clough, who was sent back to the bench with no score, a far cry from his recent 125 against East Gambier in the Barber Shield.
With the total at just one, Josh Thompson took to the crease to help settle the innings with Drenthen.
That partnership was far more rewarding, with 95 runs added before Thompson was sent packing by young bowler Ben Thiel for 15.
Adam Somerfield was up next, but was caught by Craig Lock off Thiel for just one run, with 10 added to the total.
At that point South was 3/106 from nine overs and looked to be in for a big score.
David Vine joined Drenthen, before the latter was finally dismissed, caught by Josh Jantosh off Jonathan Allcock.
Another boost to the score came in the form of Zadow, as he joined Vine at the crease for a 35-run partnership, before Vine was caught by Todd Carpenter off Jarryd Burston for 12 runs.
Daniel Loupos had a short visit to the crease as he was bowled by Burston for no score, while Camron Jorgenson stood up and batted out the remaining five overs with Zadow.
The pair finished with Zadow top-scoring with 87-not-out and Jorgenson 16-not-out, for the solid total of 225.
With the ball, Thiel and Burston topped the sheets with two wickets each, while Miller and Allcock both claimed one.
A daunting target was set for Mil Lel, but the home side was off to a solid start.
Carey Megaw and Jantosh opened the batting and although the latter was dismissed for 11 runs, Megaw remained strong.
He was joined by Theil for a solid partnership, which saw 77 runs on the board when Megaw was caught by Somerfield off Loupos for 42.
Thiel went on to post 26 before he was run out, with a 30-run partnership with Allcock (19) and a short stint with Kaiden Webber (1).
Daniel Justin had not long taken to the crease when Thiel was dismissed and he was then joined by Miller.
Justin finished with just one run to his name, caught and bowled by Drenthen, while Miller finished with 13-not-out after the 20 overs.
Loupos took two wickets, while Somefield, Vine and Drenthen all bagged one each, with the total of 136 far from the target set by the Demons.
South will be out to uphold this form going into a tough meeting with Penola next week at Blue Lake Sports Park.
