Trevor Jackson
MIL LEL will face a tough task on Saturday when it hosts South Gambier in Round 10 of Barber Shield cricket at Frew Park.
The home side is yet to record a victory this season and will need to pull out all stops to defeat the Demons, who come off a solid win over Penola.
Last time the two sides met was a one-day fixture back in Round 3.
Mil Lel won the toss and sent South into bat, which looked like a good decision early.
They had the upper hand, with South at 3/27 before the runs began to flow.
That was thanks to the bowling of Logan Gibbs and Jack Leishman.
In the end Mil Lel bowled South out in the 39th over for a reachable 126, but fell well short, out for 84.
This time it is a two-day format and Mil Lel will need to be on top from the outset.
Should they bowl, the likes of Nick Walters, Gibbs and William Rowland come off a three-wicket haul each against East Gambier in the first innings, with the Bulldogs heading back into bat, which saw Harrison Kicks with four scalps and Jarrod Sanders with three.
With the bat, Mil Lel has struggled to string partnerships together and will need to be patient at the crease if they are to post a strong total.
If the top order can fire, there is a chance of an upset.
However, South’s win over Penola last round showed plenty of composure with bat and ball.
The Eagles’ 199 total was overhauled, not with ease, but with a grinding effort down the order.
Daniel Loupos held strong as the early wickets tumbled around him, then Jarred Sims help boost the total with a steady and timely 35 in the middle order.
Stephen Easterbrook, Michael Sims, Robert Drenthen and Jakob Opie contributed well down the order to ensure a Demons’ victory.
South had confidence in its bowlers, sending the Eagles into bat and used a wide variety to not allow Penola to settle at the crease.
Jared Kuhl was best with figures of 3/31, with plenty of others claiming two wickets or one.
It is a solid attack which will unsettle Mil Lel and in the end will be enough to claim a victory.
