Picture: THOMAS MILES
SOUTH Gambier hold the advantage at the completion of the first day of their two-day clash against West Gambier at Malseed Park on Saturday.
It was a day which saw the ball dominate the bat, with a total of 11 wickets falling for just 182 runs.
The home side batted first and struggled to build partnerships, losing consistent wickets to see the Roos bowled out for a below-par 163.
Each member of the top five reached double figures, but eventually fell to the unrelenting Demons’ attack.
Lower order batsman Nick Bone top scored with a gritty 34, while captain Niall Easterbrook was the best of the top order with 26.
West’s total of 163 appeared impossible at 7/105, but Bone built steady partnerships with Richard Crute (22) and Will Glover (4 not out) to give the score some respectability.
Pace-man Dylan Clough was the strike bowler for the Demons with his four wickets, three of which were crucial early breakthroughs to hand the advantage to his side.
Camron Jorgenson extended his season wicket tally with two scalps, while Daniel Loupos, Luke Zadow and Adam Kuhl claimed one each.
Kuhl brilliantly set up the wicket of Ben Hentschke with a number of accurate short balls and play and misses before eventually finding the edge.
Robert Drenthen was unlucky not to take a wicket himself after he did not concede a single run from his three opening overs at the top of the innings.
The Demons run chase did not start well after Sam Willis bowled Zadow for one before Kuhl and Clough remained until stumps to leave South 1/19 after a tricky 14-over period to end the day.
