Aldgate remains top of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder after a thrilling five-wicket win over Kangarilla in a high scoring top-of-the-ladder clash at Aldgate oval during round 11 action. Kangarilla batted first and got off to a fast start through Cole Davy and Steve Featherstone to be 0/70 after 10 overs. The carnage continued up to the drinks break with ‘Kangies’ reaching 0/131 halfway through their innings. The Davy/Featherstone partnership continued on to 162 before ‘Feathers’ was dismissed for 54 (72 balls). Davy brought up his 100 from just 70 balls before eventually being dismissed for 114 from 75 balls. Davy’s innings included 13 boundaries and seven sixes as Kangarilla finished on 6/260 from their 40 overs. Frank Clements (2/46) and Jake Turnbull (2/53) were the multiple wicket takers for the home side. Turnbull changed his batting order around and opened up with Luke Smet and Jack Woollard in an attempt to get off to a quick start. It worked in spectacular fashion with the pair adding 103 in just 15 overs. Smet was first to go for 55 from 48 balls (5 x 4’s, 5 x 6’s) closely followed by Woollard (44 from 51 balls), as Aldgate reached drinks at 2/122 (20). Clements and Turnbull got together and pushed on with a 109-run third wicket stand in just 14 overs to push Aldgate within sight of victory. Clements made 71 from 49 balls (6 x 4’s, 5 x 6’s) while Turnbull brought it home for his side with 53 not out as the winning runs were knocked off in the 38th over. 

Meadows won their fourth game on the trot as they ominously moved into second spot on the HCA ladder following a six-wicket victory at home over Mount Lofty. The Redcaps batted first and got themselves into a reasonable position at 1/60 with Josh Healey and Jordan Neis-Beer adding 49 runs for the second wicket before Healey was dismissed for a top scoring 41 from 66 balls. Mount Lofty then collapsed to 6/91 before Adam Carthew (25) and Dave Bennett (12) put on 28 runs for the seventh wicket. The Redcaps struggled through their 40 overs to finish with 9/130. Meadows used seven bowlers with five of them taking wickets including veteran Chad Dawe (3/19), Kris Dawe (2/12) and skipper Rohan Reid (2/24). Mount Lofty came out fired up and had Meadows in early trouble as Luke Tonkin (4), Kris Dawe (8) and Oscar Tydeman (5) were all dismissed to see the reigning premier 3/19 in the eighth over. Max Buckley came in to join his captain as they set about getting the innings back on track with Meadows reaching 3/62 at drinks. The partnership continued on after the break to reach 111 runs before Reid was dismissed with the scores level for a patient and important 56 from 119 balls (4 x 4’s). Chad Dawe came in and hit the winning runs with 22 balls to spare as Buckley remained 51 not out from 73 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s), his fifth ‘A’ grade half century. James Kittel-Neill (2/25), Carthew (1/15) and Bennett (1/18) were the successful bowlers for Mount Lofty.

After falling out of the top four last week, Flagstaff Hill jumped back in with a convincing 84-run win against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens Oval. The Falcons batted first with all batsmen contributing to a very competitive score of 3/213 from 40 overs. The standout of the innings for the Falcons was teenager Oliver Styles who registered his first century for ‘Flaggies’ as he finished with 100 not out from 102 balls (8 x 4’s, 2 x6’s). Max Renfrey (37), Matt Emes (26) and Josh Dunlevey (21 not out) made solid contributions in partnership with Styles. It was tough going for the Scott Creek Ironbank bowlers with veteran Andy Adams the best of them with 1/27 (7). SCIB were never really in the run chase as Flagstaff Hill skipper Jacob Lemon bowled a tight spell to snare 3/22 from his eight over spell while five other players took a wicket each. Adams top scored for SCIB with 48 not out while teenager Zane Lewis (25) continues to show signs of a promising future. Scott Creek Ironbank finished their 40 overs on 8/129. 

Stirling won their third game of the season to keep their finals hopes alive with an eight wicket victory at Uraidla. Uraidla batted first and got off to a solid start but lost regular wickets until veteran Ryan Hunter came to the crease. Hunter top scored with 42 as the home side made their way to 5/114 with the hope of pushing their total past 140. It wasn’t to be as Stirling opening bowler Chris Shaw came back into the attack and dismissed Renzo Gaetan (9), Ben Ratcliffe (0) and Trent Richardson (0) in successive deliveries to take his first hat trick in his long and successful career. It was the ultimate hat trick for Shaw with all three batsmen out bowled! The Demons lost their last 5/11 to be bowled out for 125 in the 38th over. Shaw finished with 3/30 (8) and he was well supported by Myles Collins (3/23) and Jack Read (2/23). Despite losing a couple of early wickets in Collins (14) and Read (0), the Eagles knocked off the required runs in the 31st over thanks to an excellent partnership between skipper Jack Pick (55 not out) and Kosta Sinodinos (40 not out). It was Pick’s first half century of the season and sixth overall for the Eagles in ‘A’ grade competition. 

The competition takes a break next weekend for the annual Harry Meyer Shield which will be hosted by the Hills Cricket Association at Flagstaff Hill, Kangarilla and Meadows. 

Ladder (after round 11)

Aldgate 39, Meadows 36, Flagstaff Hill 33, Kangarilla 33, Mount Lofty 30, Stirling 21, Uraidla 18, Scott Creek Ironbank 6.

Round 12 fixtures (30/1/21) (home team named first)

Meadows v Kangarilla

Aldgate v Stirling

Scott Creek Ironbank v Mount Lofty

Flagstaff Hill v Uraidla