Aldgate bounced back from their first loss of the season last week with a convincing eight-wicket victory over top-of-the-table Stirling at Aldgate Oval during round five action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) on Saturday. The match was reduced to 29 overs per side with Stirling batting first. Matthew Frith continued the good start to his Eagles career as he top scored with 48 from 44 balls (8 x 4’s). Daniel Gonzalez (26) and Kosta Sinodinos (17) made handy contributions as Stirling posted 8/135. Jake Turnbull (2/14), Matty Hansen (2/25) and Felix Farmer (2/29) were the multiple wicket takers for Aldgate. Chris Shaw (1/29) removed Aldgate opener Mitch Thomas (2) early, before Josh Callaghan and Turnbull combined for a match-winning second wicket stand worth 130 before Turnbull was run out for 48 (62 balls). Callaghan finished with 69 not out from 89 balls (8 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) as the winning runs came up with 16 balls to spare. 

Reigning premier Mount Lofty are back on top of the HCA ladder following their 56-run win against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens. The match was shortened to 33 overs per side due to the weather with the Redcaps batting first. The visitors were in trouble early with Josh Healey (5) and Jack Sandercock (19) dismissed and the score at 2/29. This brought Mount Lofty skipper Jordan Neis-Beer and Aaron Smith together and this pair put the SCIB bowlers to the sword. Their third wicket partnership was worth 107 runs before Smith was dismissed for an aggressive 63 from just 39 balls (11 x 4’s). Stewart Leigh (25) joined Neis-Beer to add a further 65 runs for the fourth wicket as the visitors put up a formidable total of 4/243. Neis-Beer finished with 94 not out from 104 balls (13 x 4’s), his highest score for Mount Lofty. It was tough going for the SCIB trundlers with Max Ashworth (2/48) the only multiple wicket taker. With players such as Adam Shearwood, Daniel Desengo and Andy Adams missing, it was always going to be a tough ask for the home side but they fought out the game well to finish with 187 as they were bowled out on the final ball of their innings. Thomas Watton was the standout with a hard-hitting 66 from 44 balls (7 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Jarrod Thompson (30), Nathan Abbott (24) and Devin Payne (21) made solid contributions as well. Five Mount Lofty bowlers took wickets with James Kittel-Neill (4/18) the standout. Kittel-Neill has 10 wickets at an average of 7.20 to lead the HCA wicket taker list after five rounds. Will Healey (2/38) and Smith (2/57) were the other multiple wicket takers.

Kangarilla won their third game of the season with a 17-run win over Uraidla at Kangarilla Oval in a match reduced to 25 overs per side. ‘Kangies’ batted first and posted 6/102 with Che Martinsen (27), Ryan Grimmond (21) and Ryan Smallman (15 not out) leading the way. Renzo Gaetan (3/30) was the pick of the Uraidla bowlers, while Mitch Makings (1/21) and Trent Richardson (1/24) chimed in with a wicket each. Uraidla reached 2/57 in the run chase with Peter Wilson (21) and Simon Parker (15) putting on 36 runs for the third wicket. The dismissal of Wilson precipitated a dramatic collapse of 6/9 before Uraidla rounded out their 25 overs at 9/85. Ben Evans and Steve Featherstone were the destroyers for ‘Kangies’ as they combined for seven wickets. Evans finished with 4/29 (7), his best ‘A’ grade figures, while veteran Featherstone picked up 3/17 from his six overs. 

Unfortunately the weather won out at Bridgewater as the Raiders hosted Meadows. Only 5.1 overs were played before the match was abandoned with Bridgewater at 1/15 (Luke Hoyle 12 not out). Rohan Reid (1/3) was the wicket taker for Meadows.

Ladder (after round 5)

Mount Lofty 24, Aldgate 24, Kangarilla 21, Stirling 21, Meadows 15, Scott Creek Ironbank 6, Uraidla 6, Bridgewater 3.

Round 6 fixture (home team named first)

Mount Lofty v Aldgate

Kangarilla v Scott Creek Ironbank

Bridgewater v Uraidla

Stirling v Meadows