IT was a disappointing long weekend for South Gambier, after its Sungold Twenty20 Cup dreams were shattered by a heavy defeat in the semi-final against City United at Uebergang Oval on Saturday.
The Demons had high hopes of a grand final berth in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association competition with a full strength side confident after a solid performance in the first round against Pigeon Ponds.
But South struggled to find its best across the border and was bowled out for double-figure total after it won the toss.
The South East side’s poor fortune began on the second ball of the match when David Vine was run out for one.
Demons’ captain David Somerfield responded in trademark fashion with three consecutive boundaries.
However, Somerfield’s joy was short lived after Robert Drenthen, Josh Thompson and himself fell in consecutive overs.
After City United tore through South’s top order, the Victorians dictated terms and dried up the runs.
The naturally aggressive Jakob Opie and Camron Jorgensen found scoring difficult as they stopped the flow of wickets.
The pair scored 23 runs in 32 balls until Jorgensen was bowled by Joshua Garner for 11.
Opie became Achira Eranga’s third victim when he was caught for 19 shortly after and the Demons were in deep trouble at 6/67.
Daniel Loupos dug deep and hoped to spark a recovery during the second half of the innings.
He dominated a 26-run partnership with James Sullivan and pushed South towards triple figures.
However, the momentum swung at the fall of Sullivan’s wicket in the 19th over.
The Demons suffered a nightmare finish, as City United achieved a rare team hat-trick in the last three balls of the innings.
Loupos was caught for 20 before Nicholas Seager and Ryan Kuhl were both run out for diamond ducks.
The dramatic conclusion saw South cleaned up for 96, with Eranga the only multiple wicket taker with figures of 3/16.
With a meagre total to defend, the Demons bowlers struggled to contain City United’s opening batsmen.
By the time Drenthen dismissed Eranga in the third over, 27 runs had already been scored after a series of boundaries.
City United continued to race towards the target, as Alex Inglis (25) and Dylan Slater (30) took the game out of the visitors’ reach.
Despite picking up four late wickets, the Demons attack could do little to avoid defeat, as Jagath Poorna powered City United to a five-wicket win with 38 balls to spare.
Jorgensen and Drenthen claimed two wickets each, while David Vine finished with figures of 1/8 from his two overs.
Mortlake overcame City United in the final, while South switches its attention to the return of Barber Shield competition this Saturday.
