A spirited century from North Sportsman’s captain Nick McInerney led the defending Barber Shield premiers to a convincing win over South Gambier at Blue Lake Sports Park in Reconciliation Round on Saturday.
McInerney fronted the Tigers’ assault with both the bat and the ball as his side sent an ominous message of intent as the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association finished the opening leg of one-day matches.
After a disappointing loss in the opening round, North dominated its one-day clash against the Demons from start to finish.
The Tigers were sent into bat by South captain James Dunn, who instantly regretted his decision as McInerney and Jake Schutz dictated terms and punished any deliveries on their pads. The Demons eventually ran out of answers as the opening pair brought up the century stand in the 23rd over.
Both players approached the 50-run milestone, but Schutz fell seven runs short after he was bowled through the gate by Adam Kuhl. Despite the breakthrough, South could not make any further inroads as the perfect platform was set for Aidan Thatcher to join the party.
The duo played shots all around the ground as Thatcher threw his hands at any width outside the off stump, while McInerney was an image of confidence, peppering the leg-side boundary, while batting without a helmet.
After a couple of nervous swings on 99, McInerney brought up his maiden A Grade century with single down to long on. The celebrations did not end there after Thatcher also raised the bat for the first time in Tigers colours.
McInerney and Thatcher finished on 115 and 53 respectively and walked off the ground satisfied after their unbroken 112-run partnership pushed North to a commanding 1/228.
After being forced to toil in the sun for 40 overs, the Demons struggled to fire with the bat.
Both openers were removed early, while key-player David Somerfield only made 12 as a fired up McInerney steamed in with the new ball.
South’s middle order offered more resistance with Josh Thompson, Nicholas Seager and Michael Sims all posting 20-plus scores.
But the Demons’ faint hopes of victory were wiped out when captain Dunn was dismissed for 19, while Sims remained unbeaten on 24 as the home side scored 8/132 from its 40 overs.
McInerney completed his dream day with figures of 3/23, while Tim Young was close to unplayable with 2/9 from his eight overs. After his side was knocked over for 87 in round one, McInerney said the 200-plus total was a great achievement.
“It was a good effort to lose only the one wicket, especially in the short format batting through the overs,” he said. “It was awesome to see Aidan get some runs, he has been knocking on the door a bit, but hasn’t quite gone through with a really good score, while our side is always better when Jake is making runs,” One major change to the top order was McInerney’s promotion to the opening role at the start of the season.
But it has paid off handsomely with the captain scoring his first 100 for over five years and he said it was great to raise the bat again despite some nervous moments.
“Everyone goes out to make runs and hundreds and realistically it doesn’t happen very often, so from that perspective it feels really good,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was on, but if I knew I was in the nineties I probably would not of played those dirty slogs. “But from a captain’s perspective it is just great to see the team do well.”
