Aldgate are in a good position after day one of their clash with Mount Lofty at Heathfield Oval as round five got underway in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA). The home side won the toss and elected to bat and it was tough going from the start as the Redcaps slumped to a disastrous 5/21 in the 15th over. Skipper Jordan Neis-Beer showed plenty of grit to make 30 (129 balls) but eventually Aldgate dismissed Mount Lofty for just 72 in the 56th over. Left-arm seamer, Matty Hansen, was the star for the Gaters snaring his best ever figures of 7/26 from a mammoth 23.5 overs. Brian Stephens (1/8) and Jake Turnbull (1/34) were the other wicket takers. Aldgate had 11 overs to bat at the end of the day and at stumps were 1/13 with Mitch Thomas (6 not out) and Turnbull (1 not out) at the crease. Josh Callaghan was dismissed without scoring by opening bowler James Kittel-Neill (1/2).

Led by a fourth ‘A’ grade century by opening batsman Luke Tonkin, Meadows posted a large first day total of 318 as they ventured to Flagstaff Hill to take on the Falcons. Meadows skipper Brad Dawe won the toss and decided to bat first with Tonkin and Haydn Reid (29) adding 89 for the first wicket. Tonkin and Brad Dawe then put on 54 for the second wicket before four wickets fell to leave Meadows at 5/175. Tonkin was eventually dismissed for a fine 111. Marko Kovac (52) joined Rohan Reid (80) and these two put the home side to the sword with a damaging 113-run partnership for the sixth wicket which took the score up towards 300. Flagstaff Hill skipper Kyle Petty toiled hard all day to finish with 6/103 from 25 overs. Petty leads the A1 wicket takers list this season with 16 scalps.

Kangarilla are in the box seat to reclaim second spot on the HCA ladder after an excellent first day at Bridgewater on Saturday. Batting first, the home side were always under the pump from a disciplined Kangies attack as the Raiders were bowled out in the 55th over for just 106. Veterans Dylan Wiles (22) and Luke Hoyle (20) were the Raiders top scorers. Debutant Manav Singh (4/22) was a star with the ball and he was well supported by fellow debutant Ryan Grimmond (2/24) while Steve Featherstone (2/8) and Jack Evans (2/27) were the other wicket takers. Kangarilla had 13 overs to bat until stumps and are halfway to their target at 1/53 with Jono Makai (22 not out) and Matthew Bertelsmeier (12 not out) at the crease. Singh was the batsman dismissed for 12 by Adam Eckermann (1/16).