Penola produced a complete performance to outclass West Gambier and stand head and shoulders above the rest after a dream week in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association.
Just three days after scoring a last-ball six to beat Millicent in a classic T20, the Eagles took their game to a new level by thumping the Roos in a top-of-the-table Hoggies Wines Barber Shield clash at McCorquindale Park.
Having already posted a convincing 5/245 thanks to a Drew Clayfield century, Penola had scoreboard pressure, but was weary of West’s capabilities with the bat after scoring 200-plus in the second innings against North.
“Leading into the day I was a little bit concerned because I knew what the weather, pitch and oval were pretty good,” Eagles’ captain Mark Smith said.
“We were obviously aware West had a handful of players who could bat all day and take the game away from us.”
However, many of Smith’s fears would have vanished after his bowlers produced an outstanding display of seam bowling in the first hour.
Michael Waters and Lachlan Jones did not mess around with the new ball giving the West openers Jack Geddes and Justin DeJong no margin for error.
The pressure proved too much for Geddes, who edged a Jones delivery into the gloves off Smith to give the home side its first breakthrough in the fifth over.
The Roos could not break free and took more than 10 overs to score a boundary as the Eagles swooped all over them.
Alex Hill and DeJong were both victims in Jones’ devastating opening spell which left the visitors in big trouble at 3/24 after the left-armer nailed a potent line from around the wicket.
No less than 14 of Jones’ 19 overs were maidens, while after the opening burst, Josh Doyle did not miss the opportunity to make further inroads removing shot makers Sam Willis and Jake Blackwell.
Suddenly the Roos were on the ropes at 5/42 and sensing the game slipping away, captain Richard Crute was determined to stop the rot.
Crute and Sam Coxen dug deep to slow the home side’s moment as their stand did not get off the mark until the 17th ball.
The captain showcased his defensive and offensive game, but after more than 11 overs at the crease he dismissed by Lewis March and once Kyal Chapman came and went, the end was nigh at 7/75.
Coxen remained and dead batted his way to 23 off 104 balls to delay the inevitable.
When Waters found himself on a hat-trick, the Eagles eyed restricting the Roos to a double-digit total, but number 11 Oliver Miles somehow kept out the milestone ball and went on to frustrate the home side for almost 10 overs.
A silky sweep shot from Miles pushed West beyond triple figures, but one over later Conrad Slabber knocked over Coxen to seal the 142-run win.
There was enough time left for the home side to have another stick and compile 2/58 until hands were shaken.
Smith top scored with 32 and was very happy with how his team enters the Christmas break after all six bowlers shared the wickets to seal the ladder lead.
“It was great to beat the second team and be on top of the ladder, but anything can happen,” he said.
“We will just rest up and come back giving it (the flag) a real crack.”
