West Gambier lived up to its favourite’s tag to win its 2021 Hoggies Wines Barber Shield season opener against Mil Lel, but the home side was pushed to the brink on Saturday.
A revamped Mil Lel side led by Jack Miller was keen to make life difficult for the Roos in the season opener and did so after its tail wagged to post a formidable 9/156.
Following a solid opening stand, three quick wickets shook West’s batting line up, but the scare was not enough to derail the run chase as its middle order stood tall to pass the target with four wickets and 12 balls in hand.
Victorious captain Richard Crute said the triumph was set up in the field where the Roos were feeling buoyant to start the season on the right note.
“We started off brilliantly with the ball and in the field during the first 20 overs,” he said.
“The bowling was fantastic led by Justin de Jong alongside Sam Willis and Kyal Chapman and the fielding was probably the best I have seen for a while.
“It was good to put some pressure on and take those half chances to get on top.”
Mil Lel struggled to cope with West’s energy in the field as the visitors were wobbling at 5/37 after 12 overs.
De Jong did the damage with figures of 3/14 from his set of eight, while Chapman and Willis also found some early breakthroughs.
Young gun Darcy Williamson valiantly played his shots, but he was struggling to find partners and at 7/71 double figure team total appeared likely.
However, one of Miller’s mystery men Henry Smith showed no fear on debut and swung the game around.
Despite Williamson’s vital 40 coming to an end in the 29th over, Smith continued to press on.
In a calculated display of ball striking targeting the straight boundaries, he smashed five sixes in a run-a-ball 59.
The number nine dominated a 58-run stand with relation Tom Smith which powered Mil Lel’s to a tricky total to chase.
“We were hopeful of only chasing 100, but we probably did not execute well enough and credit to their batters who played fantastic,” Crute said.
“But we were still pretty confident because the pitch was playing fairly true.”
De Jong and Jack Geddes gave West a solid start scoring 45 runs for the first wicket before Nicholas Walters sparked a brief collapse.
At 3/58 with 26 overs left, it was game on, but Connor Prior was resolute at the crease and he steered the run chase until he was dismissed from a sharp caught and bowled by Walters.
The Roos batted around Prior’s 78-ball 37 and despite a couple of late wickets, captain Crute took his boys home alongside a series of other solid performances.
