Mil Lel v East Gambier
East Gambier is back in winning form in the new year in the Barber Shield as it claimed victory in round seven over Mil Lel.
After winning the toss, East Gambier sent Mil Lel in to bat first and success with the ball was not instantaneous.
Marc Roberts took the first wicket of the match in the ninth over, with Alex Hentschke catching Nick Walters who only managed eight runs from the opening overs.
William Rowland chased after a delivery from Roberts and sent it high, however Riley Flamank had little problem taking the catch as Mil Lel quickly lost another wicket.
Darcy Williamson joined Jarrod Sanders at the crease and had a let off early with Flamank dropping a low catch.
Sanders was then run out for 12 off 46 as Mil Lel found itself in trouble.
Flamank’s dropped catch did not cost East Gambier many runs with Williamson eventually caught on 14 with Roberts claiming a third wicket for the match.
Archer Virtanen and Jack Miller developed an important partnership as the pair started to impact the scoreboard.
But East Gambier continued to take wickets at important moments and Miller was caught on 27.
Alex Hentschke took his first wicket of the match, bowling Virtanen and then sending Dale Bachmann walking for a golden duck, however Mitchell Little survived the hat trick ball.
Hentschke catching Dinninson LBW was the beginning of the end for Mil Lel as with Dinnison gone for 14 Mil Lel was in trouble at 8/121.
Mitchell Little and Craig Hicks finished unbeaten at the crease on three and five respectively with Mil Lel’s total of 9/135.
Needing 136 East Gambier was in with a good chance to claim the points.
Early wickets were important for Mil Lel and captain Jack Miller delivered in the third over bowling Aiden Creasey for one run.
Miller then picked up another important wicket in the sixth over with Hill caught for six.
Emerson Marks did not get going for his seven, and Ben Robinson only managed to last three balls before he was bowled for Hicks’ second wicket of the over.
At 4/32 Mil Lel was pleased with its start, while East Gambier was in trouble, however Dion Stratford was still at the crease and looked to be scoring well.
Stratford got himself to 38, but a run out was his undoing, Marc Roberts followed four balls after for a duck and Alex Hentschke the very next over was caught on 14.
At 7/76 East Gambier still needed 59 runs but still had plenty of time to bat with 19 overs remaining.
Riley Flamank’s introduction to the crease proved the difference in the match, Flamank began to find quick runs as he piled the pressure on the Mil Lel attack.
A 16 run over, which included a six and two fours, gave East some hope it could get the job done.
Connor Little’s wicket swung the match back into the balance as Little was providing much needed support to Flamank’s innings.
But East now only required 16 runs to win and had two wickets in hand.
In the 33rd over Liam Turley hit the winning runs for East Gambier, Flamank brought up his 50 off 42 balls, but was caught two balls later.
Evan Clark only lasted the one ball as East finished its innings 10/152, taking an important victory.
A good bowling effort from Marc Roberts, who finished with figures of 3/18, and Riley Flamank’s batting innings proved instrumental in claiming the points.
