By Lachlan Onions
SOUTH GAMBIER 10/156 and 6/85 d WEST GAMBIER 10/92
THE Demons sent a message to the competition this weekend after it toppled the ladder-leading West Gambier in Round 5 of the Barber Shield.
The pressure was on Nuwan Gunawardana and Trent Badman as they made their way out to the middle on Day 2 at 2/16 with the hosts up and about after two late wickets on Day 1.
The day could not have started any worse for the Roos as Gunawardana was caught on the first ball of play to make it 3/16.
Jake Blackwell and Badman combined for a 15-run partnership before the former was dismissed by Jakob Opie to leave the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 4/31.
It was all downhill from there for West Gambier as South Gambier punished the batters at every chance.
Opie claimed his fourth scalp of the innings when he bowled Bray Stephenson for five in the 18th over.
Then just nine balls later, Robbie Drenthen claimed the wicket of Badman to make it 6/39.
A 22-run stand was made by Sam Coxon and Sam Willis before Drenthen claimed two more victims in the space of an over.
Coxon was dismissed on the first ball of the 29th over, before Kyal Chapman was sent on his way on the fifth ball of the over.
Camron Jorgensen then found himself amongst the wickets when he bowled Sam Willis the next over to leave the Roos in all sorts at 9/63.
Niall Easterbrook put up an impressive fight batting at number 10 to top his side’s run-scorers for the innings with 26.
Easterbrook’s run-a-ball 26 included four 4’s and a six.
He helped his side make their way to 92 before Jorgensen claimed his second scalp of the game to end the innings.
It was a solid all-round performance from the Demons as all four bowlers claimed at least one wicket.
Opie led the way with the ball and finished with figures of 4/28.
He was supported by Drenthen and Jorgensen who combined for five wickets between them.
For West, only Easterbrook, Willis and Badman posted scores of double figures in what was a day to forget.
The Demons then made their way out to the middle for a second time, where wickets continued to fall.
However, Geary defied the impressive West Gambier bowling attack to post the highest score across both days with an unbeaten 31 off 97 deliveries.
He was supported by Drenthen and Jorgensen who both made handy contributions with the bat.
After 39 overs, play ended and the Demons added 85 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Willis and Gunawardana both impressed in the final stages as they both took two wickets each.
