By Lachlan Onions
AN intriguing contest is set to take place at Marist Park when North Sportsman’s host South Gambier in the fourth round of Barber Shield cricket.
The Tigers will take to the crease this weekend off the back of just one full shield game, while South has played two games with one win and one loss.
The hosts head into the two-day clash off the back of a narrow defeat to the hands of East Gambier in Round 3, while the Demons enter this contest on a high after a superb performance from Robbie Drenthen guided South to a 42-run win over Mil Lel.
Drenthen picked up six wickets and a hat-trick with the ball and also top-scored for his side with the bat last weekend so the Tigers will need to be wary of his presence.
Another player whose impact North will need to limit is Stephen Easterbrook.
Easterbrook scored 27 runs last time out and will be a key figure in the middle order for South Gambier.
Looking at the Tigers, Michael Johnston has shown some positive signs with the bat and has had starts in both of his innings but has yet to go ahead and make a big score.
Johnston picked up 22 runs in both of his games and leads his team in runs scored this season.
North will hope Johnston can build from his performances in the first three rounds and potentially go ahead and make a match-winning total with the bat.
He has also been a handy contributor with the ball and took 1/22 off seven overs last weekend.
South will also need to be wary of Matthew Robinson and Nick McInerney.
Robinson took 2/14 in his last outing, while McInerney took 4/25 and nearly helped his side claim an unlikely win in Round 3.
McInerney has also proven in previous season he is a force to be reckoned with as a batter and while he has yet to set the competition alight this year, it is only a matter of time before the Tigers captain makes a big score.
When North and South did battle last season, the Demons claimed wins in both clashes and will take confidence from that headed into the first of the two-day games.
A close contest will be expected over the next two weekends and after its strong performance in Round 3, South Gambier will head in as slight favourites.
