Roos bounce above Mil Lel on overall cricket standings

Justin Dejong Dsc 606020200222crop  TBW Newsgroup
ENTERTAINER: West Gambier batsman Justin Dejong played an entertaining match-winning knock during the Roos' round 10 Barber Shield cricket clash with Mil Lel at Malseed Park on Saturday. Picture: THOMAS MILES

Justin Dejong Dsc 606020200222crop TBW Newsgroup
ENTERTAINER: West Gambier batsman Justin Dejong played an entertaining match-winning knock during the Roos’ round 10 Barber Shield cricket clash with Mil Lel at Malseed Park on Saturday. Picture: THOMAS MILES

DESPITE being forced to exit the 2019-20 Barber Shield cricket season prematurely, West Gambier and Mil Lel fought a classic encounter at Malseed Park on Saturday.

Battling to avoid the wooden spoon, both teams were desperate to finish the summer on a high during a low-scoring contest.

The home team was forced to bat first after it lost the toss and it did not enjoy an ideal start.

Openers Niall Easterbrook and Jack Geddes fell in back-to-back overs to Jonathan Allcock and Ben Thiel respectively for single-figure scores.

The early setback caused Connor Prior and West captain Richard Crute to survive the new ball onslaught.

After the pair began to look comfortable during a gritty 21-run partnership, Mil Lel captain Jack Miller brought himself on to bowl and he dismissed his opposite number for eight.

At the other end, Miller introduced leg-spin into the bowling attack through Mitchell Little and the move made a dramatic impact.

The youngster found himself on a hat-trick during his second over when he dismissed Prior, Sam Willis and Shane Dycer.

Playing in his A Grade debut, the red-haired “leggie” claimed his maiden five-wicket haul just two overs later to leave the hosts in deep trouble at 8/60.

Watching the wickets tumble from the other end was Justin Dejong, who had shown some promise with the bat, but could not find a partner.

However, he found strong support in Alex Hill and the pair began rebuilding the innings.

Dejong then flicked the switch and smashed 27 runs from his next 10 balls.

He hit Mil Lel’s bowlers to all parts of the ground with a mix of traditional and aggressive shots.

By the time Allcock finished Mil Lel’s pain by knocking over Hill for 10, he and Dejong had already struck 56 runs from 40 balls.

After just 28 overs, a run out finished the Roos innings on 121.

Dejong remained unbeaten on 51 from 48 balls to give his side a fighting chance, as he and Hill were the only men to reach double figures.

Little was the hero for the visitors after he claimed the figures of 5/45, while Allcock was the only other bowler to take multiple wickets.

With the prospect of chasing an under-par target, Mil Lel’s opening batsmen Jarryd Burston and Allcock began in positive fashion.

The pair scored 27 runs from the first seven overs until Burston fell on 19.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the breakthrough began a period of domination for the home team.

Crute and Dycer gave nothing away and dried up the runs bowling a tight line and length.

Their pressure proved too much for Mil Lel’s middle order, as Dycer dismissed Darcy Williamson for a low score, while Crute claimed Miller during a period of 29 consecutive dot balls.

Allcock and Carey Megaw offered brief resistance, but the pair both fell to Crute during a collapse of 4/30.

At 6/74, Mil Lel’s hopes were fading fast, but Caleb Bachmann brought the contest to life.

Playing in his first A Grade match of the season, Bachmann decided to take an aggressive approach by striking a six on his fifth ball.

Justin Lamont offered steady support at the other end with a positive innings and after seven overs at the crease, the pair pushed Mil Lel back into the game at 6/103.

However, the visitors’ momentum was wiped out by Josh Cornolo and Sam Willis, who claimed a wicket each in consecutive overs.

Their double strike forced Bachmann to find a way to score the required 13 runs for victory with only number-11 Little left for company.

But Bachmann could only score seven more runs before Little was caught and bowled by Cornolo for a 10-ball duck, which saw West claim a narrow six-run win.

Crute was the leading wicket-taker with 3/24, while Dycer, Trueman Schrader and Cornolo claimed two each.

Mil Lel was left to ponder what could have been after a poor batting performance and conceding 23 extras with the ball including 10 no balls and five penalty runs.