Picture: THOMAS MILES
A CONSISTENT bowling effort from Penola limited North Sportsman’s to 163 runs on Saturday, on day one of their round 10 Barber Shield cricket match at Marist Park.
Matt McInerney led the charge for the Tigers with a solid half century of 58 runs, which steadied the ship after the quick dismissal of Jake Schutz and Keiran Ashby.
Schutz and Johnston opened the batting, with the former bowled by Jase Bateman for no score, while Ashby added just one run before he also suffered at the hands of a Bateman delivery.
From there Matt McInerney stepped up and he and Johnston bolstered the score, with the latter out for 27, while McInerney edged out to his eventual 58.
Down the order Justin McConnell also put in a decent effort to score 21 runs.
The eventual total of 163 off 56.4 overs was far from North’s potential, but was decent considering the Eagles’ relentless bowling attack.
Penola had eight bowlers on the day, six of which claimed at least one wicket.
Bateman, Jack Mullan and George Kidman all took two, while David Somerfield, Curt Evans and Conrad Slabber managed one each.
Kidman’s figures of 2/3 were most impressive from his four overs, while Bateman managed 2/10 from seven.
Taking to the crease to bat out the day, the Eagles struggled to find momentum, with openers Jack Schulz (13) and Jack Mullan (8) unable to get the side off to a decent start.
The team sits on an overnight score of 2/30, which is far from the mark when it comes to Penola.
The Eagles will want to lift on day two, should play go ahead in the hot conditions expected, or risk giving up the top spot at the final hurdle of the season.
Bateman (3) and Somerfield (5) were left unbeaten at the stumps on Saturday and will pick up where they left off on day two.
With the ball, the Tigers looked to Tim Young, who claimed both scalps for his team.
He will be out to add to these figures on day two.
A close contest can be expected and it will be a classic battle between the two heavyweights of the competition.
