By Trevor Jackson
Mil Lel 10/247 and 1/19 d Penola 10/186 and 10/79
MIL Lel turned its fortunes around on day two of its Barber Shield clash with Penola, after sitting at a poor 6/66 overnight to claim an outright victory.
Chasing a total of 186, Mil Lel’s top order was decimated on day one of play, leaving it in a tentative position when play resumed on Saturday.
William Rowland and Archer Virtanen took to the crease and began to turn the game on its head once more.
The Penola bowling attack simply could not make the required break, with both batsmen showing plenty of resolve, while keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Rowland eventually fell to Lewis March for a much-needed 77 runs, but it left Mil Lel short at 7/165.
Virtanen also departed before the victory had been secured, trapped lbw for 41 off the bowling of March, with Mil Lel then at 8/175.
Just 12 runs were required for victory and Mil Lel did it with ease, as Jack Miller played a captain’s role with 25 runs, ably assisted by Darcy Williamson kwho was out for 36.
Dale Bachmann was among the runs at number 11, unbeaten on 11.
It pushed the score up to 247 and placed the pressure back on the Penola bats.
The second innings for the Eagles was poor, as they recorded just 79 runs before being bowled out.
The only two highlights were the batting of opener Jack Mullan, out for 49 runs off 68 balls, along with Nathan Fulton in the middle order with 16.
No other Penola batsman reached double figures, with Mil Lel then chasing hard for an outright victory.
Mil Lel only needed 1.3 overs to achieve its outright victory, with Rowland contributing 16 runs off just seven balls and Virtanen run out on his first ball.
Williamson was also unbeaten on two.
