By Lachlan Onions
SOUTH GAMBIER 4/119 d NORTH SPORTSMAN’S 10/110
SOUTH Gambier continued its impressive start to the season with a strong batting performance on Day 2 of the Barber Shield clash at Marist Park.
The visitors resumed at 0/23 and faced difficult conditions for batting.
However, Robbie Drenthen and Daniel Loupos eased the pressure early and blunted the new ball to put the Demons on the front foot.
The openers combined for 45 runs before Isaac Mulraney steamed in and bowled Loupos for 17 in 13th over.
Declan Kenny then put the visitors under pressure when he took an impressive reflex catch off his own bowling to dismiss Adam Kuhl in the 16th over.
At 2/54, the game was in the balance and the hosts started to gain some momentum when Jed Sims made his way to the crease.
However, this did not deter Drenthen as he continued to take the bowlers on and kept the runs ticking over.
Kenny struck again with the first ball of the 24th over to dismiss Sims for seven runs but there was still plenty of work to be done for the Tigers, who needed seven more wickets while the visitors required just 37 runs to win.
Ryan Kuhl and Drenthen combined for 25 runs to all but seal the game before the latter was eventually run-out for 61 runs.
Stephen Easterbrook then made his way out to the middle and made a late cameo to help his side claim the honours.
Drenthen and Loupos were the two best performers with the bat for South, while Kenny was the best of the bowlers with 2/42 off 12 overs.
It was another player of the match performance from Drenthen who took 3/34 with the ball on Day 1.
The Demons have now moved up to third on the Barber Shield ladder after four rounds with two wins and one loss.
