Local cricketers played a leading role in the Australian Country Cricket Championships held in Canberra last week.
Three Mount Gambier and Districts Cricket Association players were selected in the South Australia Outback’s squad, with North Gambier’s Nick Mclnerney named as vice captain joined by West Gambier’s Connor Prior and Penola’s Jack Mullan.
Former local Ben Theil was also named as part of the squad.
The first game against New South Wales did not go to plan for the Outbacks as the side was bowled out for 187 with Prior top scoring for the local players with 11.
New South Wales did not struggle with the total, successfully chasing it with only four wickets lost.
Mullan was the pick of the local bowlers taking 2/35, a good performance on a disappointing day.
On day two the Outbacks were once again outplayed, this time by Victoria.
The local players again struggled with the bat, with Mclnerney scoring 5 and Prior 1.
In reply to the Outbacks’ 108, Victoria scored 109 for the loss of three wickets.
The Outbacks faced off against Western Australia on day three, which had also gone winless in its first two matches.
Mclnerney contributed with the ball taking 1/31, but it was a hard day with the ball for the Outbacks with Western Australia scoring a huge 7/222.
The locals’ struggles with the bat continued, with Mclnerney the best with 13, Prior 8 and Mullan scored just the one run.
The Western Australian total proved too much for the Outbacks as it finished 9/131.
The Australian Capital Territory was the opposition for the Outbacks on day four of competition, with The Outbacks posting a big total of 237, with Mullan and Mclnerney scoring four and five respectively.
Mclnerney was crucial for the Outbacks during the ACT innings, taking a remarkable 3/5.
Mclnerney also contributed with a run out as ACT fell just short of chasing down the Outbacks’ score.
The Outbacks bowled ACT all out for 227, winning by just 10 runs in an incredibly tight contest between the two sides.
The South Australian side carried the momentum of its first win into the game against Queensland on day five.
The Sunshine State players set a total of 266 for the Outbacks to chase and with a tough task the side stood up.
The locals fared better than previous games with Prior’s 21 and Mclnerny’s 17 adding valuable runs to chase.
The side came through eventual one-wicket winners as the match drew tight near the end of the innings.
On day seven the side faced off against a bottom-placed Philippines outfit and managed to put on a dominant display of cricket.
Mclnerny again contributed with the ball taking 1/18 as the side bowled out its opposition for 138.
The total was easily chased by the Outbacks with the local players all contributing to the run chase.
Prior made an impressive 30 that led his side in the right direction, while Mullan got a nice start with 15.
Mclnerney remained not out when the Outbacks successfully chased down the total finishing 12 not out.
The side won their last game by six wickets and turned the results of the week from no wins and three losses, to three wins and three losses.
Whilst not the easiest tournament the side showed some excellent fightback in the final four days and the local players proved their worth each contributing well for the side.
