North Gambier is back on the winners’ list with a massive win over East Gambier on Saturday.
Winning the toss East Gambier selected to have a bat first at Marist Park and it was a decision the side would soon regret.
James Sullivan was gone on the second ball of the day, caught by Isaac Mulraney off the bowling of Timothy Young.
Alex Hill and Emerson Marks were not able to survive at the crease for long, bowled by Mulraney for scores of one and two.
Mulraney then picked up a third wicket for the day bowling Dion Stratford for a duck, as East sat 4/18.
With wickets failing all round Aiden Creasey had managed to survive and get a start however before going on to cause any damage, Creasey was caught off the bowling of Delcan Kenny for 14.
Kenny then picked up a second wicket for the over on the final ball, clean bowling Connor Little for a four-ball duck.
Ben Robinson and Ben Hentschke built East Gambier’s best partnership for the day as the pair both managed to get to double digits, a task that only one other batter was able to achieve.
Young was brought back on to break the partnership before it developed into something dangerous and delivered quickly, bowling Hentschke for 18.
Elliot Fisher got his first contributions of the day with the wickets of Marc Roberts and Liam Turley, as East found itself 9-65.
The 10th wicket partnership between Robinson and Evan Clark only added five runs to East Gambier’s total.
Fisher picked up his third wicket with Robinson caught by McInerney on 11.
Fisher and Mulraney were the pick of the bowlers taking three each, with Young and Kenny also picking up two.
North was only required to chase 71 runs to take the win, however two early wickets gave East Gambier some hope.
Elliot Fisher was joined at the crease by Nick McInerney at 2/15, and the pair did enough to steady the ship.
The pair closed in on East Gambier’s total but both were dismissed before chasing down the total.
Connor Little took both wickets with McInerney caught on 19 and Fisher bowled on 17.
The wickets brought Brad Robinson and Alex Hutton to the crease and the pair finished chasing East Gambier’s total, with Hutton building a solid innings at the crease.
Ben Hentschke got the breakthrough of Robinson but at 5/90 North Gambier was very comfortable with the bat.
Hutton eventually fell to stand in skipper Emerson Marks, caught on 40 off 65 balls.
Two more quick wickets fell after Hutton’s dismissal with Evan Clark picking up both Mathew Robinson and Declan Kenny.
Mulraney and Mitch Lewis were comfortable at the crease as they batted out the overs, with North Gambier finishing 8/163, Mulraney finished on 22 and Lewis on 18.
It was a disappointing result for East Gambier, the side was outmatched and struggled with bat in hand.
North Gambier will be pleased with how it stands going into the break, but East Gambier will be keen to get itself back on the winners’ list in 2024
