East Gambier has finished its home and away season on a high with a good win over Mil Lel at Allan Scott Park.
The Doggies declared after day one with 79 runs and put Mil Lel back in to bat to start day two.
East started the day hot, getting out opener Darren Whitehorn for two with Emerson Marks picking up the first wicket for the day.
In the tenth over Doggies bowler Marc Roberts reached a new level, snaring three wickets in the over.
Mil Lel’s Jarrod Sanders only made five before getting out to Roberts, with Darcy Williamson and Jack Miller both out for a duck.
Mil Lel’s William Rowland came in and steadied the ship for Mil Lel making 14 off 21.
Roberts made Rowland his fourth wicket with Rowlands caught in the 18th over.
Roberts continued to control Mil Lel as he took his fifth and final wicket, finishing Harry Hicks’ day with 12 runs.
Mil Lel’s Ty Dinnison could not make any magic happen when he came to the crease, only lasting 22 balls before being caught on nine.
Craig Hicks came in for Mil Lel next and gave his side some life late in the innings.
Hicks put 26 runs on the board before falling to Emerson Marks LBW.
During Mil Lel’s innings, opener Nick Walters lasted most of the day facing 116 balls and looking to keep Mil Lel in the game, slowly ticking over 20 runs.
After Walters’ and Hicks’ innings ended, Mil Lel was left with Oliver McCracken and Brad Hann at the crease.
McCracken finished the innings not out on four runs and Hann was out for a duck.
Mil Lel finished all out for 111 and East went back in to bat to close out the day.
Emerson Marks and Marc Roberts had a great innings with the ball, Mark claimed four wickets and Roberts picked up five.
In the Doggies’ second innings openers Rajat Pandey and Ben Robinson came out looking to finish out the day.
Johnson lasted a few overs before he was bowled by Harry Hicks on six, while Pandey did not last much longer, falling to Hicks on eight.
Alex Hill came out to bat and lasted 39 balls before he was bowled by Jack Miller on seven.
Emerson Marks had an unlucky day, making one run off six balls.
Dion Stratford put some runs on the board for the Doggies, making 11 off 48.
East closed out the innings and the match with 66 runs.
Mil Lel’s Harry Hicks and Nick Walters both took two wickets in the innings.
With this win over Mil Lel, East finished the season second on the ladder and will have the home field advantage in its semi final match.
North Gambier v South Gambier
North Sportsman’s finished its season in fine form with a big win over South Gambier at Marist Park on Saturday.
Elliot Fisher and Nick McInerney came out to bat on day two after finishing not out on day one.
On day two McInerney put up 66 runs before getting caught.
Isaac Mulraney came in for North and made 13 off 35 before getting out LBW by Jake Hollis.
Alex Hutton came in next and helped put runs on the board, making 16 runs before finding himself out LBW.
North slowed down in the back end of the innings, Declan Kenny made 14 and Josh Stafford contributed 11.
North found most of its runs off the back of Elliot Fisher.
After finishing day one with 27 runs Fisher came into day two on a mission.
Fisher put up an all time performance for North, hitting 15 fours and nine sixes in the innings, making 191 runs off 187 balls.
Following Fisher’s dismissal North played out two more overs before declaring on 422.
After North’s massive innings South Gambier’s Robert Drenthen led the team in wickets with five.
South Gambier came out to bat to finish out the day, with openers Stephen Easterbrook and Robert Drenthen getting a solid start.
Drenthen fell to Isaac Mulraney on 26 and Easterbrook to Nick McInerney on 32.
Besides Easterbrook and Drenthen, South struggled to make any runs with the most coming from Jakob Opie with nine.
South ended the innings and the day 5/72.
With this win North Sportsman’s heads into finals in great form as they will play East Gambier in the semi final.
North finished the season third and will have to play East on their home turf.
North finished just behind East with only 0.5 points separating them.
Penola v West Gambier
West Gambier finished its season on a high with a great win over Penola at McCorquindale Park, with the first placed side primed and ready for finals.
West kicked off the day with a hot start, claiming Jack Mullan for a duck on the second ball.
Penola’s other opener Lewis March struggled all day, only making five runs off 57 balls.
Most of Penola’s runs came from Michael Waters who had a great day, making 44 from 94 deliveries.
Penola’s next two batters could not find any momentum with Drew Clayfield making seven and Jacob Robbie getting out for a duck.
In the middle of the innings Penola found a bit of life with Nathan Fulton coming in and putting some runs on the board.
Fulton faced 55 balls and found himself out on 14 after being caught.
Tom Clayfield had a rough day as he was bowled by Bray Stephenson, heading to the locker room with a duck.
Near the end of the innings Penola found some success with its batters.
Finley Maccoll made 10 and Joshua Doyle had a great day, making 41.
Paul Ellis and Gerard Merrett closed out the innings with Ellis making 28.
Penola finished the innings all out for 162 with Sam Willis picking up four wickets for West in the innings.
West headed back in to bat to finish out the match for the day.
In West’s second innings openers Justin De Jong and Samuel Coxon came in and made some quick runs to finish off the day.
De Jong ended with 16 and Coxon finished not out on 21.
West Gambier closed out day two and its second innings 2/50.
With this win over Penola, West Gambier finished the season as minor premiers, only losing one game for the season.
West will have home field advantage when it plays Mil Lel in the semi final.
