Trevor Jackson
NORTH Sportsman’s will hope its home ground at Marist Park will be kind this weekend when the East Gambier Bulldogs roll up for Round 10 of Barber Shield cricket.
The two sides faced off back in Round 3 in a one-day fixture, with the win going to the Bulldogs, but only just.
With the ball in hand East limited the Tigers to just 95 runs, before batting out the full 40 overs to pass the target and claim the win.
Alex Hentschke was somewhat quiet with the ball in that game, but it is fair to say that may not be the case this time around.
If East does choose to bowl, as they did last time, the North bats will face an in-form speedster who comes off a couple of solid days of cricket.
Hentschke was a wrecking ball against Mil Lel last round, where he claimed five wickets, four of those on the opening day after the Bulldogs were bowled out early and Mil Lel headed into bat.
Looking to East’s second innings and Hentschke wielded the willow in style, smashing 80 runs off 68 deliveries in a true all-rounders’ effort.
Of course there is more to East than just Hentschke, with Emerson Marks and Connor Little also among the wickets last time out.
Marks was also impressive with the bat against Mil Lel, with a well-crafted 72 and while Dion Stratford did not perform to his standards, he is always a danger player.
The Tigers still have some good names in the lineup but have simply struggled this season.
The likes of Matthew Robinson, Mitchell Lewis and Nick McInerney are well supported down the order by Declan Kenny, Harry Fisher and Thomas Madigan but need to pull it all together.
Last time out against West, McInerney was missing but Isaac Mularaney claimed four wickets against a hard-hitting Roos roster.
Kenny chipped in with three, while Elliott Fisher grabbed two.
This will certainly be a game worth watching in one of the most picturesque venues in town.
