By Trevor Jackson
THE Blue Lake Sports Park wicket had recovered well from the recent corella attack and Penola made a good fist of its first innings in Round 10 of the Hoggies Wines Barber Shield cricket season.
That was despite a six-wicket haul from South’s Jakob Opie.
While only five players reached double figures, the total of 161 provided something handy to defend.
The first three wickets set the scene, with Jack Schulz out for a handy 27 in a 29-run first-wicket stand with Lewis March.
The incoming Jack Mullan was also among the runs, with 22 to his name before he was judged lbw to Daniel Loupos.
March continued to play an anchor role but he was next to go, with the team century reached and 29 personal runs chalked up.
He became the first victim of Opie and the start of a mini-collapse.
With 106 on the board, Sam Klemm was bowled by Opie for just two, then with another three team runs added, Michael Waters was lbw to Robert Drenthen for one and suddenly the visitors looked in trouble at 5/109.
Meanwhile Mark Smith had found his touch but that came to an end with 39 next to his name and 127 on the board – another Opie scalp.
Two runs later Josh Doyle was lbw to Opie and again Penola was in trouble.
However, Lachy Jones managed a handy 25 runs before he was bowled by Opie and Penola edged along to 161 in the 51st over.
Opie finished with figures of 6/49.
South then headed to the batting crease but it all went pear shaped early.
Adam Kuhl was out for a four-ball duck with no runs on the board, clean bowled by Jones.
Just seven runs later fellow opener Loupos was gone for one, caught off Waters.
Dave Somerfield and Camron Jorgenson looked to steady the ship, but the former was gone for 22 and the latter for five.
After facing 26 overs South finished the day at 4/49, with Josh Thompson and Michael Sims established at the crease.
