Meadows won their sixth game in a row and in the process moved up to second spot on the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder after round 14 action on Saturday. The Bulldogs travelled to Heathfield to take on reigning premier Mount Lofty and after winning the toss, Meadows skipper Rohan Reid asked the Redcaps to bat first. The home side was in early trouble at 3/18 with Tom Bevan-Giles (3/15) and Max Buckley (2/39) doing the damage. Bevan-Giles has had an excellent month with 12 wickets in the past four games. Mount Lofty skipper Jordan Neis-Beer (37) and Ryan Pistola (22) added 42 runs for the fifth wicket to get their side back in the game, but a collapse of 6/25 saw the Redcaps bowled out for 118. Rohan Reid (2/15) and Chad Dawe (2/18) were the other wicket takers for Meadows. The Meadows run chase started slowly as Mount Lofty battled hard to have the visitors 3/31. Rohan Reid (31) was joined by teenager Oscar Tydeman (24) in a match-winning 70-run fourth wicket stand before Dawe finished off the match with a quickfire 15 not out (9 balls) to see his side over the line with five wickets and 15 balls spare. Adam Carthew (2/21) was the multiple wicket taker for Mount Lofty. 

Aldgate has moved back to the top of the HCA ladder following their gritty four-wicket win at Kangarilla on Saturday. It was a tough day for the batsmen with 16 wickets falling for just 174 runs. Kangarilla batted first with only Lachlan Knight (36) and Steve Featherstone (11) making double figures as the home side were rolled for just 85 in the 33rd over. Frank Clements (4/26), Will Turner (3/16) and Brian Stephens (2/18) were the chief destroyers for the ‘Gaters’. What appeared a relatively easy chase proved to be anything but that, as Aldgate slumped to 4/28 with Kangarilla opening bowler Ben Evans claiming 2/16. Clements was joined at the crease by Connor Milde and this pair slowly resurrected the innings through a 45-run stand for the fifth wicket. Clements finished with 48 not out from 74 balls (6 x 4’s) to see Aldgate over the line with 27 balls to spare.

Stirling consolidated their spot in the top-four with a convincing 112-run win at Uraidla. The Eagles batted first and they didn’t start well with both openers dismissed and the score at 2/30. Eagles skipper Jack Pick was joined by Kosta Sinodinos in a 70-run third wicket partnership before Pick was dismissed for 51 (74 balls). Sinodinos then partnered with Pete Fryer (24) to put on 66 for the fifth wicket to see Stirling to 5/202 from their 40 overs. Sinodinos continued on to make his highest score for Stirling, 89 not out from 94 balls (12 x 4’s). Simon Parker was the standout bowler for the Demons with 2/17 (8). The home side struggled in the run chase with Michael Parker (29), Alex Heptinstall (23) and Ben Sutton (10) the only Uraidla batsmen to reach double figures as they were bowled out for just 90 in the 37th over. Six Stirling bowlers claimed wickets with Charlie Fryer (2/15), Chris Shaw (2/16) and Jack Read (2/18) leading the way.

Bridgewater won their second game in a row following a thrilling 14-run win against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens. Luke Hoyle and Justin Summerill (33) started well for the Raiders with a 109-run opening stand before Hoyle went for 70 from 65 balls (10 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Jackson Hooper came in at the fall of the first wicket and quickly got on with the job to make 58 not out from 45 balls (7 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Dylan Wiles put the finishing touches on the innings with a hard-hitting 32 not out (20 balls) as Bridgewater posted 4/212 from their 40 overs. SCIB skipper Beau Thomas (2/40) was the multiple wicket taker for the hosts. SCIB got off to an excellent start with opening batsmen Andy Adams (26) and Tom Watton adding 76 for the first wicket. Watton then put on 68 runs for the second wicket with Daniel Desengo (24) as SCIB got themselves into a winning position with just 26 runs required from five overs with eight wickets in hand. Watton finished with his maiden century as he made 118 from 126 balls (13 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s) but it was all in vain as Rhys Jordan (1/24) and Finlay Sullivan-Llewellyn (1/28) put the brakes on to see the Raiders home.

Ladder (after round 14)

Aldgate 60, Meadows 57, Stirling 57, Mount Lofty 54, Kangarilla 51, Scott Creek Ironbank 24, Uraidla 18, Bridgewater 15.

Round 15 fixture (home team named first)

Mount Lofty v Scott Creek Ironbank 

Stirling v Kangarilla

Uraidla v Aldgate

Meadows v Bridgewater