However the Central Tigers star did just that, leading his team to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Wallendbeen at Albert Park.

Gale looked far from comfortable at the crease on Friday night, making just three as the Central side went down by three wickets to a rejuvenated Swing N Miss, however he was out in the middle again less than 24 hours later as the Tigers were asked to chase down just 86 set for victory.

Whatever his method of treatment was obviously worked as Gale remained unbeaten on 53 in easily his best performance with the willow this season.

Losing his opening partner Liam Frilay with just the fourth ball of the innings when Frilay edged one behind to Richie McGowan off the bowling of Shane O’Brien, Gale and Mick Cronin got the job done without further loss.

With the village side minus a number of key players including Chris and Nigel Hourn and Tim Hudson, all of who played a part in getting the Wallendbeen Wackers to the final of Thursday’s Australia Day

sevens, O’Brien was forced to play a lone hand with the ball, bowling unchanged for 10 overs in the hope of sparking a Tigers

collapse.

However Gale and Cronin saw off the threat of the ‘Been spearhead, who went for just 24 runs, preferring to take the match up to the remaining bowlers who had no joy in the 23-over reply.

The pair worked the ball around the field, combining for just four boundaries between them as Cronin finished unbeaten on 33.

Earlier, the day started dreadfully for Wallendbeen, with Tigers teenage quick Ryan Breese striking a double blow in his first over, knocking over Tom Grace second ball and having Tim Rees caught by Frilay for one.

O’Brien and Jason Gillies stabilized the innings with a 30-run effort, however the promising partnership was broken when O’Brien holed out to Gale off the bowling of Joel Pearson for 15.

Pearson also claimed the scalp of Gillies, who was easily his team’s best with 39,

however once again the Wallendbeen lower order was as brittle as Rahul Dravid’s defence this summer, the bottom seven batsmen combining for just 19 runs as the villagers crumbled to be all out in the 26th over.

Breese finished with 3-22 and Pearson

3-31, while Adam Twyford and Rob Brown made up the tally with two each.