By Trevor Jackson
PENOLA 10/260 AND 5/143 D SOUTH GAMBIER 10/113
PENOLA easily accounted for South Gambier in Round 9 of Barber Shield cricket on Saturday, with a much-needed victory.
The Eagles were in a strong position after day one of play, leaving South a total of 261 for victory.
A big day with the ball for Gerard Merrett put paid to any chance South had, with figures of 6/36.
In its run chase, South lost the wicket of James Miller on day one, with the Demons at 1/7 overnight.
On the second day Adam Kuhl and Sam Bradbrook appeared settled at the crease, but with just 21 runs on the board, Kuhl was caught off the bowling of Gerard Merrett for 14, which triggered somewhat of a collapse.
Just four runs later Jakob Opie was sent back to the sidelines for just four runs, bowled by Merrett and with no further runs added to the total, Noah Maxwell suffered the same fate.
Merrett was not done at that stage and bowled Jake Hollis for a run-a-ball eight and when Stephen Easterbrook was trapped lbw to Michael Waters, it was all-but over for South, in real trouble at 6/38.
As it panned out, only Kobi Maxwell reached double figures from there on, unbeaten at the end of the innings for a classy 27 off 55 deliveries.
Merrett completed his six-wicket haul with the final scalp of Adam Vause, but also completed a run-out prior to that in an impressive day of cricket.
South was all out for just 113 runs.
With the victory in hand, the Eagles headed out to bat and Jack Mullan backed up his first-innings half-century with another, this time with 60 runs off just 58 balls.
However, few others could contribute to the scoreboard, with Merrett (16) and Jack Schulz (27) to only two others to reach double figures, both not out at stumps.
