By Lachlan Onions
DAY 2 of Round 5 in the Barber Shield will take place this Saturday with a couple of games headed down to the wire.
In the headline match of the round between between last season’s grand finalists, Penola will look to claim its second win of the season when play resumes against East Gambier.
The Eagles head into Day 2 at 1/46 and trail by just 93 runs after a strong performance with the ball on Day 1.
Jack Mullan and Tom Clayfield withstood the late pressure from Alex Hentschke and Emerson Marks to make it through the day unscathed after Hentschke dismissed Lewis March 11 overs before the end of play.
Mullan, Tom Clayfield and Drew Clayfield will be crucial for the Eagles when they make their way out to face the music on Saturday.
If any of the three players can go on to make an impressive score, then it will be very difficult for the Bulldogs to come away with a result.
Penola captain Drew Clayfield heads into this game off the back of a match-winning half century against Mil Lel in Round 4 and will look to show the similar levels of poise that he displayed last time out if he is needed on Saturday.
For East Gambier, the equation is simple, it needs to take wickets fast.
If Hentschke or any of the other Bulldogs bowlers can claim two or three wickets early in the day, then spectators could be set for an enthralling finale at McCorquindale Park.
The Bulldogs will also look to Liam Turley, Emerson Marks and Connor Little to try and steer momentum back in the visitors’ favour.
However, Penola will still head into the second day as favourites and should have enough strength to see off East’s bowling attack.
Back on the Mount, there are two games which hang in the balance.
South Gambier finds itself in a strong position against the ladder-leading West Gambier at Blue Lake Sports Park.
After the Roos bowled out the Demons for 156, the hosts responded late on Day 1 to take the ascendancy with two wickets in the final over of play.
West will continue at 2/16 and still need 141 runs for victory.
Opener Nuwan Gunawardana made it through Day 1 at seven not-out and possesses the ability to quickly thwart the momentum of opposition bowlers.
Gunawardana has show he is capable of scoring runs rapidly and will be a key player for West Gambier.
The Roo will also look to Jake Blackwell and Trent Badman to help rescue the run-chase.
Blackwell has impressed with two half-centuries in the shield and one in the Big Bash this season.
His most recent 50 was against the Demons at Blue Lake Sports Park last week in the Big Bash and will look to be a thorn in the side of South Gambier once again.
Robbie Drenthen, Elwood Geary, Camron Jorgensen and Jakob Opie will be tasked with defending the first innings total.
Drenthen has been one of the best performing players this season and will be pivotal for the Demons.
In a game which will likely go down to the wire, South Gambier should claim a narrow victory.
At Frew Park, the tension is palpable as North Sportsman’s and Mil Lel contest a clash which neither side can afford to lose.
Both sides have yet to win a shield game this season and another loss at this stage of the competition, could put a major dent in either side’s finals aspirations.
The Tigers will resume play at 1/15, after they bowled the hosts out for 158 on Day 1.
North has struggled for consistency with the bat this season and will face a difficult task to chase down the runs.
The visitors will need Michael Johnston to continue on from the weekend and make a big score.
Declan Kenny and Matthew Robinson will be other players to watch, while Nick McInerney has been a quality batter for North for several seasons and will look to claim his first big score of the season tomorrow.
If McInerney can put in a strong performance, then there is a strong chance the Tigers could claim their first win of the season.
This is a game which could go either way and a winner is anyone’s guess.
