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Cricket returns to two-day matches

Posted on December 5, 2008, 7:07am

Two-day action in the Barber Shield returns this weekend as the Mount Gambier District Cricket Association moves into the second half of its 2008-09 roster.

In a quirk of the roster and current ladder positions, the top four teams will all meet teams outside finals calculations at present, offering the opportunity to cement their respective spots.

Mil Lel (5th) v Yahl (1st)

Ladder leaders, Yahl will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats, but must defeat the cricket starved Mil Lel line-up which hasn’t played a roster game since defeating West Gambier on November 15.

The Mil Lel v Penola match scheduled for November 22 was washed out and then the majority of players had last weekend off while 24 of the competition’s elite players took part in the GEM City v Country Challenge.

To be played at the picturesque Frew Park, Mil Lel would like nothing better than to inflict a little bit more pain into the Yahl XI.

However, Yahl — arguably — boasts the best starting line-up in the competition with star players such as Andy Paltridge, Jason Shanks, Jon Clayton, Geoff Hay, Tom Wilson and the Crouch brothers, Andrew and Chris leading the charge.

Mil Lel will have to be at its very best to upset Yahl, but with skipper Craig Lock, Todd Carpenter, Brett Lawson and Nick Blachut all enjoying good seasons to date, that upset is certainly possible.

South (2nd) v West (8th)

On paper, this match should be a soda for the Demons, particularly on home turf at Blue Lake Sports Park.

South is clinging to second spot on the ladder, by just .14 of a point from reigning premiers, East whilst West Gambier is floundering along on the bottom rung after four successive defeats.

With David Somerfield back from SA Outbacks duty in Adelaide and Matt Bowering, Richard Crute, Matt Bruorton and Adam Vause fresh from last weekend’s challenge matches, South should hold the upper hand.

Like Somerfield, West bowler Bray Stephenson also represented the region in the Outbacks match, taking 3/21 and almost certainly cementing his spot in the team for the national championships next month.

While West’s bowling stocks are strong, its batting is brittle and the result of this match could well be decided by the toss of the coin and has first use of the willow.

If South bats first and make a big score it could be “nighty nght West” before the Roos realise.

Penola (6th) v East (3rd)

Penola, like Mil Lel, has not played a roster game since November 15 and is still to venture outside its own backyard, having drawn six home games in succession and will finish the roster season off on March 7 with yet another home fixture.

Given that “sweetheart” draw, Penola should be higher up the ladder than sixth.

Penola relies too heavily on too few to make runs and take wickets and its form so far has been a real mixed bag, two wins, two losses and a wash out.

East Gambier however has been stirred into action since losing its opening match to start the defence of its 2007-08 premiership.

How Penola are going to handle the likes of Daniel Stratford, Simon Golebiowski, Ben Clark, Chris Koop, Peter Kerr and Dion Stratford will go a long way in determing this result.

If one or more of those East stars cut loose, a big win could be on the cards.

North (7th) v Northern Knights (4th)

The North Tigers broke their run of outs in Round 5 against Yahl, winning by six runs, but is still well short of the form that took them to last season’s grand final.

Skipper Michael Johnson has a host of talent at his disposal, namely Michael Silvy, Kym Gray, Russell Keeley, Dean O’Byrne, Gavin Coon and Marcus Wallis and North has also welcomed back Liam Downs-Woolley with open arms after the paceman endured an early season hiatus.

Tomorrow the Tigers take on the surprise packet of the season, Northern Knights at Marist Park.

The Knights, enjoying their first season in the MGDCA hold a slender break over Mil Lel inside the four at present and if on song in this match, could start dreaming of finals.

ROD MORRIS

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