North Sportsman’s is holding out for a hero to save its Hoggies Wines Barber Shield title defence in the final day of the 2021/22 Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association minor-round season this Saturday.
The Tigers have got to be strong, fast and fresh for the fight of their lives which requires them to go where no team has gone before this summer.
Led by a Stephen Easterbrook century, South Gambier set the bar posting 258 on the scoreboard which means North must compile the biggest score of the summer to maintain its dynasty.
Although the Tigers may be on the back foot, they have many reasons to believe the run chase will be possible.
North has already compiled a score of 258 at Marist Park this summer when it drove the Mil Lel bowlers into the dirt in what was eventually an abandoned fixture last month.
The top four all spent valuable time in the middle with Michael Johnston and Tom Robertson batting around Elliott Fisher and Jake Schutz who went big with fifties.
The same names will be turned to again and they were given the perfect masterclass from Easterbrook last week.
But it will be no easy task facing up to the same bowling attack which defended the small total of 100 one week ago.
Robert Drenthen was at his destructive best taking 5/22 to roll East Gambier for 78 and will be leading the charge with Jakob Opie and possibly captain Camron Jorgensen to make it two from two in 2021/22 against North.
There is also a lot on the line in the other games with Penola and Mil Lel wrestling for a home semi-final at McCorquindale Park.
The Eagles hold the narrow advantage enjoying the comforts of playing at home and having runs on the board, but they have left the door half open.
A steady stream of middle order wickets helped Mil Lel restrict Penola to 181 on the opening day.
Chasing at McCorquindale Park in two-day contests has not been easy this season, but with the likes of Craig Lock, Will Rowland, Henry Smith, Josh Smith and Jack Miller waiting in the wings, the visitors have a big sniff.
Captain Miller’s gutsy vigil last week to get his team over the line against West will be a tremendous source of hope when the likes of Lachlan Jones and Michael Waters come bustling in.
With West and East Gambier currently sitting first and fourth on the ladder, the result of their final round clash could have a significant say on how they perform in the semis, especially if a rematch is on the cards.
After Ben Hentschke’s leg breaks caused some damage on the sporting Malseed Park surface, the Bulldogs will believe they have the edge needing another 87 runs for victory.
But that number can be unlucky for some in cricket circles and East has developed a reputation for falling short of small targets in the recent past.
With Leigh Von Duve and Hentschke being removed on the stroke of stumps, Steven Cameron and Nathan Gore must get the dogs off to a solid start to ease the nerves at the Kennel.
With three games delicately poised, this summer’s minor-round season should finish on a captivating note.
