Teams hope to bounce back in final white-ball round of Barber Shield season

A Carey Megaw Reverse Sweep Dsc 732120200111crop  TBW Newsgroup
ENTERTAINER: Mil Lel batsman Carey Megaw will be one to watch with bat in hand when his side hosts East Gambier for round eight of the 2019-20 Barber Shield cricket season at Frew Park tomorrow. Picture: THOMAS MILES

A Carey Megaw Reverse Sweep Dsc 732120200111crop TBW Newsgroup
ENTERTAINER: Mil Lel batsman Carey Megaw will be one to watch with bat in hand when his side hosts East Gambier for round eight of the 2019-20 Barber Shield cricket season at Frew Park tomorrow. Picture: THOMAS MILES

WEST GAMBIER v NORTH SPORTSMAN’S

FOR the final time this season, Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association players will wear the coloured clothing for the last one-day Barber Shield fixture tomorrow.

West Gambier will look to make up for lost time when it hosts North Sportsman’s at Malseed Park.

In the opening two-day round of the season, the Roos were within striking distance of victory, but rain washed away any chance of a result.

The Tigers carry the superior recent form into the round-eight clash after they sealed a low-scoring win over East.

Declan Kenny, Nick McInerney, Kayne Badman and Elliott Fisher were close to unplayable with ball in hand and dismissed the Bulldogs for a meagre 42.

However, North’s batting remains a concern.

Its batsmen have struggled to play for long periods of time and post a solid total to support its bowlers.

Last week just three Tigers reached double figures on a challenging pitch, while Kieran Ashby remains the only man to pass the 50-run milestone this season.

North hopes the return of Jake Schutz from Outbacks’ duty can lift the lineup, but it will receive a thorough examination against West.

New-ball pair Sam Willis and Richard Crute are the major threats with 32 wickets between them.

Josh Cornolo is another handy seam option, while all three also have the ability to cause major damage with bat in hand.

But the middle-order trio did not make a substantial impact against Penola last week and will be determined to fire back.

Only Connor Prior could offer stern resistance to the Eagles’ bowlers, as the Roos fell 78 runs short of victory.

West will be keen to return to winning ways on home turf, but North looms as a tricky opponent despite sitting on the bottom of the ladder.

The batting side which can best withstand the pressure at the crease should come out on top.

SOUTH GAMBIER v PENOLA

SOUTH Gambier hopes to continue its powerful form when it hosts Penola at Blue Lake Sports Park for round eight of Barber Shield cricket tomorrow.

Both sides carry confidence into the final white-ball fixture of the season and are determined for a win.

The Demons will start as the favourites after a convincing triumph over Mil Lel last week on the same venue.

Their batting was a heavy feature behind the success after the top order scored 259 runs from 40 overs.

The crushing display was headlined by South captain David Somerfield.

The former-Eagle smashed nine sixes en route to 165 runs from just 111 balls.

Despite not bowling last week, Somerfield appears in ominous form to frustrate his old team and looms as the key figure in the match.

If the visitors can find a way to limit his all-round capabilities, a close game could pan out, but if not, a long afternoon in the field awaits.

Other names Penola must watch out for are Josh Thompson and Robert Drenthen.

Thompson is a solid contributor in the middle order and played an important role in round seven.

He scored 43 not out and performed the ideal support act alongside Somerfield to compile the pair’s 165-run partnership.

Drenthen is the major threat to the Eagles with the ball after picking up 13 wickets in the last two rounds and can also offer some heavy hitting down the order.

But Penola believes it has the personal to challenge the ladder-leader after it secured a strong win against West.

With the ball, Michael Waters has been in irresistible form and will be a major hurdle for the home side.

He is backed up by Conrad Slabber and Jase Bateman, who picked up five wickets as a pair last week.

Jack Mullan played with confidence to notch up a match-winning 77, while Mark Smith and Waters also made solid contributions.

The Eagles will give it their best shot, but South’s confidence at home should be the decisive factor.

MIL LEL v EAST GAMBIER

BOTH sides will be desperate for a confidence-boosting victory when Mil Lel meets East Gambier at Scott Park for a round-eight one-day cricket clash tomorrow.

The pair suffered disappointing defeats in its first match of the new year and this contest offers the ideal chance to return to winning ways.

Mil Lel’s bowlers will be keen to forget the nightmare of last week when they were hammered by South.

Defending a solid score of 200, Mil Lel’s bowling line up could not find a way to slow David Somerfield and others, as they cruised past the target and score 259 runs in 40 overs.

Captain Jack Miller will be determined for his men to respond well and eyes an out-of-form Bulldogs batting line up as an opportunity.

East was bowled out for just 42 last week and the likes of Ben Thiel and Tom Nieuwerkerk will hope to continue the pain.

But the Bulldogs’ batsmen were in good touch last time they faced Mil Lel and chased down a 200-plus score.

Dion Stratford was the top-scorer with an unbeaten 56 and he is ready to return after his stint as Outbacks’ captain.

His return will provide a calming influence to East’s team and could inspire his partners to return to form.

With the ball, the Bulldogs have enjoyed a far happier run of form.

They have contained almost every opponent so far this season and arrive confidently after restricting both of last season’s grand finalists for sub-100 scores.

Opening pair Alex Hentschke and Ben Clark shared seven Mil Lel wickets back in round three and will be hungry for more victims, while four individuals claimed two scalps each last week.

East’s attack poses a significant challenge, but Mil Lel believes it has the batsmen to counter the threat.

Mil Lel has shown its ability to post big totals with four 200-plus scores this season.

Daniel Justin has made two half centuries in as many innings, while an adventurous Carey Megaw also reached the 50-run milestone against the Demons.

With two evenly-matched sides set to go head to head, the result might be decided by how the opposing bowling attacks cope under pressure.