By Lachlan Onions
SOUTH GAMBIER 9/214 v EAST GAMBIER
SOUTH Gambier holds the ascendancy after Day 1 of its Barber Shield clash with East Gambier as it posted a competitive total at stumps.
In what could be a prelude for finals, the Demons batted first at Scott Park and made a solid start with a 36-run opening stand before Alex Hentschke clean bowled Ryan Kuhl.
The Bulldogs then looked to seize control as they dismissed Robbie Drenthen at the end of the following over to make it 2/42.
Alex Hentschke then bowled Adam Kuhl the next ball and suddenly South was under the pump and turned to Jed Sims and Stephen Easterbrook.
The pair thwarted the momentum the hosts had and slowly but surely steered the ship back into their side’s favour.
It took East 33 overs to break the partnership when Sims was adjudged LBW off Ben Hentschke’s bowling to make it 4/104.
David Vine departed not long after for five after he was run out by Angus Clarke before Emerson Marks dismissed Easterbrook in the 59th over of the day.
Easterbrook made his way back to the pavilion after a hard-fought 53 runs off 138 balls.
Michael Sims met Elwood Geary out in the middle with the score at 6/136 and the duo combined for a very handy 49-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Geary eventually departed after he was dismissed for 23 runs by Connor Little before East claimed two more wickets in the final five overs of the day as South made it to stumps at 9/214.
Easterbrook was the best of the batters, while Michael Sims also impressed with an unbeaten 44 off 56 deliveries.
With the ball, Alex Hentschke was the one of the best with 3/56, while Little also impressed with 3/46.
