The returning combination of 80 overs and a shiny new Kookaburra brought the best of the bowlers at Marist Park where North Sportsman’s and West Gambier opened their round 4 Barber Shield battle.
The opening afternoon of the two-day section of the summer provided fans with plenty of intriguing action as both teams enjoyed productive passages of play.
After being sent into bat by the Roos, the Tigers had their tails between their legs very quickly after the visitors went on the attack.
West captain Richard Crute was on the money straight away and found the edge of Brad Robinson with his second delivery of the day.
Crute only had to wait three more balls for more success when he made a mess of Kayne Badman’s stumps.
Watching the carnage unfold was youngster Elliott Fisher, but he could only survive another two overs until he was trapped lbw by Sam Willis.
North was reeling at 3/11 and turned to its senior figures for some fight.
Michael Johnston had hardly got his eye in by the time Jake Schutz joined him in the middle and the pair utilized their experience to see out the tricky spell.
Just 30 runs were scored from the following 100 balls, but with plenty of time left in the innings their hard work was paying off.
Crute was forced to bring himself back into the attack and he got the big wicket of Schutz, but not how he would have intended.
Chasing a quick single Schutz was caught short of his ground after Crute and Jake Blackwell teamed up to perform a key run out.
The incident brought Tigers’ skipper Nick McInerney to the crease and he was keen to put a high price on his wicket.
But after scoring six runs from 35 balls, McInerney edged a Willis delivery to the keeper.
With five wickets down and just 81 on the scoreboard, North needed a spark and Mitch Lewis lifted the tempo.
After getting his eye in Lewis started to find the boundary regularly, while Johnston remained solid as a rock.
The experienced left-hander eased past the 50-run milestone until his second rescue mission of the summer was finished by Justin DeJong on 61.
Despite the backbone of the innings falling, Lewis kept up his pace alongside the equally confident Justin McConnell, playing for the first time in 622 days.
Lewis and McConnell were flying almost at run-a-ball speed until the former’s well-made 43 was finished by Bray Stephenson.
After the departure of Lewis, the Tigers crumbled with the final three contributing two runs to the tally.
McConnell was the last man to fall for 32, run out chasing quick runs, while Crute led the wicket takers with 3/40 followed by Stephenson and Willis.
Despite the last four wickets falling for 11, North’s middle order ensured its bowlers had a strong chance of defending 178.
West had to navigate an uncomfortable 10-over period before stumps and the Tigers captured the last week’s century maker as the shadows lengthened around picturesque venue.
In the penultimate over of the day McInerney found the edge of DeJong to leave the game finely poised at stumps with the Roos 1/18.
