By Trevor Jackson
PENOLA v WEST GAMBIER
PENOLA is in a strong position after the opening day its Round 5 Barber Shield cricket clash with West Gambier at McCorquindale Park.
The home side set the visitors a target of 246 for victory after completing its 80 overs at 5/245.
That was built around a century to Drew Clayfield, who came in at number four and faced 185 deliveries for his 112 runs.
It came after the top three were out for 53 runs in an up-and-down start.
Jack Schulz was out for 10, clean bowled by Richard Crute, while Jack Mullan and Lewis March both contributed 18.
Further down the order Michael Waters and Tom Clayfield held up their end.
Waters and Clayfield combined for a timely century partnership of 107 runs.
Waters was bowled by Justin DeJong for 38, while Tom Clayfield chipped in with an 83-run partnership with Drew Clayfield, with 40 of those runs next to his own name.
SOUTH GAMBIER v MIL LEL
OVER at Blue Lake Sports Park, the decision to send the home side into bat paid dividends for the visiting Mil Lel.
South Gambier struggled to string any partnerships together, with Jamie Dunn compiling a steady half-century.
However, South was out in just the 52nd over for only 156 runs.
Daniel Loupos and Ryan Kuhl looked settled at the crease early but the 19-run partnership came to an end when the former was sent back to the sidelines for just 10.
Stephen Easterbrook joined Kuhl in the middle but with just seven to his name, was judged lbw to Nick Walters.
Kuhl and Dunn again settled, but the former was soon back on the grass for 12 runs, while Ethan Sims and Luke Zadow came and went without bothering the scorers.
Jed Sims contributed just six runs, Michael Sims 15, Camron Jorgenson 12 and Robert Drenthen 20.
With the ball, Henry Smith finished with figures of 5/30.
With just 147 to chase for victory, Mil Lel headed out with the bat in hand but also experienced a less-than-ideal start.
William Rowland and Josh Smith put on just 12 runs before the latter was on his way, clean bowled by Jakob Opie for seven.
Carey Megaw joined Rowland and the pair put on a 25-run partnership before Megaw was run out for just six.
Todd Carpenter was out for just one run, while Rowland fell short of his half-century with 46 to his name.
At stumps Mil Lel sat at 4/64 off 25 overs.
EAST GAMBIER v NORTH SPORTSMAN’S
NORTH Sportsman’s travelled to Scott Park to face East Gambier and returned mixed results with the bat.
The home side won the toss and elected to bowl, which proved to be a good decision.
Alex Hentshcke struck early, removing Jake Schutz for a duck, caught behind after facing 19 fruitless balls.
Elliott Fisher and Michael Johnston settled in, but the former was the next Hentschke victim, gone for a tardy 27 runs.
Johnston was also showing plenty of patience, but Ben Hentschke had him caught behind for17 off a steady 91 deliveries.
From there North appeared to find a groove and the runs began to come.
A 59-run partnership followed between Declan Kenny and Nick McInerney, with both finding the boundary with regularity.
Kenny fell to Ben Hentschke for a well-crafted 55, which brought Mitch Lewis to the crease.
McInerney and Lewis put on another half-century partnership with 66 runs.
Lewis fell for 24, with McInerney then finding partners hard to keep.
No other Tiger reached double figures as McInerney fell for a much-needed 68.
North was all out in the final over for 211 runs, a tough score to defend on Day 2 of play.
Alex Hentschke finished with figures of 4/41, while Liam Turley managed 3/33.
