James Murphy
WEST GAMBIER 5/202 d EAST GAMBIER 10/100
IT was a day where those who batted first came off second best in Barber Shield cricket, as teams took to the pitches for the opening round of the season.
That was no different at Malseed Park, where West Gambier hosted East Gambier in a grand final rematch.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, in hopes of setting a defendable target.
However, the Roos’ bowling attack proved formidable and the Bulldogs only just broke into triple figures for a return of 100 runs.
That score was beaten by a single West batsmen, as Justin DeJong impressed with the bat for a century of 101 runs.
Opening East batsmen James Sullivan and Aiden Creasey did not have the same good fortunes and they did not see much of one another, with the former dismissed for a single run with the total at three.
Sullivan’s replacement also struggled to make any inroads and 10 runs later he was caught behind off Kyal Chapman for eight.
Enter Dion Stratford and things started to settle somewhat.
He joined Creasey for a 33-run partnership before returning to the pavilion with 17 runs off 41 balls.
Ben Robinson was next up and next down, stumped by Prior for a duck shortly before Creasey was bowled by DeJong for 19.
Captain Alex Hentschke was then joined by Alex Hill, who added four runs before he was caught-and-bowled by West new recruit Sujith Nikethana.
Marc Roberts entered the fold and added 11 runs before falling to Sam Willis, while Connor Little added a solitary run before he was caught of a Willis delivery.
Hentschke went on to top score for East with 29 runs but he was next to go, clean bowled by Bray Stephenson to leave the tally at 9/96.
Angus Thomson was the final wicket on three runs, leaving Evan Clark at stumps on two.
Wickets were shared and West had four multiple wicket takers, with DeJong, Chapman, Willis and Nikethana all on two.
The Roos took to the crease and while Nuwan Gunawardana was bowled by Hentschke early in the piece, fellow opener DeJong was in it for the long haul.
He was joined by Prior and together they amassed an impressive 126 runs before Prior was caught out on 44.
DeJong’s prized wicket was the next to fall, but not before he became a centurion, with his 101 off 92 balls including five fours and four sixes.
The total was already at a winning 3/161 with Stephenson and Nikethana at the crease.
The latter was run out for 13, followed by Willis who was caught-and-bowled by Little for 16.
Stephenson finished on an unbeaten 16 runs, while Samuel Coxon did not face a ball as the Roos finished up the 40 overs 5/202.
Roberts was East’s best with the ball and he claimed two scalps.
The reigning premiers will look to bounce back against South Gambier this week, while West hosts North Sportsman’s.
