Eagles soar into big dance at top speed

Eagles soar into big dance at top speed

Penola has sealed a fourth Hoggies Wines Barber Shield Grand Final berth in five summers after thumping Mil Lel at McCorquindale Park on Sunday.

Mil Lel entered the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association semi-final full of optimism playing on the big stage for the first time in eight years, but its hopes and dreams were crushed by an Eagles side at the top of its game.

After winning the toss and sending the visitors in, the home side made the most of the conditions on offer after the pitch sat under covers during a wet lead up to the big game.

Irresistible new-ball pair Michael Waters and Lachlan Jones were at it again, settling into their areas to make life tough for the Mil Lel openers.

Penola only needed four overs to assert its dominance after Logan Gibbs edged a good ball into the cordon, which meant attention turned to Will Rowland at the other end.

Rowland was the big fish in Mil Lel’s batting line-up after an outstanding season and looked to get going after finding the first boundary of the day, but one ball later Jones had his measure.

After the loss of two early wickets Craig Lock and Nicholas Walters looked to reconsolidate the innings with a series of cut shots.

The pair fought hard until Walters poked at a Waters delivery. The Eagles sensed the moment and swooped in, building up the dot-ball pressure which brought about the downfalls of Lock (22 off 51) and Daniel Justin (0 off 21).

At 5/48 Mil Lel needed a miracle and captain Jack Miller was determined to spark the magic his team needed.

As wickets fell around him, Miller was ever-present, showing his thirst for the big stage and guiding the scoreboard along.

With support from Carey Megaw, Darcy Williamson and Shannon Megaw the Mil Lel captain ensured his team could creep past the important psychological figure of triple figures.

After more than an hour occupying the crease, Miller hit five boundaries in his gutsy 38, but once he was removed by George Kidman, Mil Lel had little left in the tank.

The visitors lost 3/1 in seven balls to be knocked over for ‘Nelson’ (111) with Jones and Conrad Slabber the leading lights with the ball in hand taking three wickets each.

With only 111 to defend, Mil Lel needed early breakthroughs, but with the Sunday sunshine drying out McCorquindale Park, the hosts made the most of the improving conditions.

Jack Mullan and Lewis March nullified the new-ball threat with the former setting the tone hitting the first over for eight.

After getting their eye in, the pair then opened their games to slowly bring bat Mil Lel into submission.

Mullan led the way hitting five fours and a six in his classy 61 to make a 10-wicket win seem possible until Miller ended his stay.

But much like with the bat, Miller played a lone hand with the ball as Penola calmly sealed the deal.

March had already compiled 37 runs before saluting the comfortable nine-wicket win in style with a boundary.

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