By Lachlan Onions
ROUND 3 of the Hoggies Wines Barber Shield will see South Gambier host Mil Lel as long as the weather doesn’t prevent play again.
Both sides lost in Round 1 before Round 2 was abandoned competition-wide due to the rain.
South Gambier was bowled out for 109 against East Gambier before last year’s runners-up scored 177 to claim a comfortable victory, while Mil Lel was bowled out for 93 at Malseed Park and conceded 220 runs to the Roos.
For Mil Lel, Logan Gibbs, Jack Miller and Mitch Little will be the players to watch, while Daniel Loupos, Camron Jorgensen and Robbie Drenthen will look to take control of the one-dayer on Saturday.
Gibbs led the runs for Mil Lel in Round 1 with 25, while Little picked up four wickets.
Loupos was a key player for South last year and made last year’s Team of the Year, while Drenthen made an impact with both bat and ball last season.
This clash could have a major implication on the final standings in the season as South finished sixth last year and Mil Lel fourth and it is likely these two will be close on the ladder at the end of the season.
When these sides met last year, Mil Lel claimed victories in both fixtures.
The first clash saw William Rowland and Craig Lock both make solid contributions with the bat for Mil Lel, while South’s Jakob Opie picked up three wickets and Drenthen scored a quick-fire 43 in his side’s second innings.
The reverse fixture saw both teams bowled out and Mil Lel held on to claim a 15-run victory.
Jorgensen and Opie teamed up to take seven wickets for the Demons between them, while Biggs and Miller also combined for seven scalps.
Another close contest is expected this weekend when these two sides lock horns and a winner is anyone’s guess in a game which should go down to the wire.
