Encounter Bay moved up to fourth spot on the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) ladder after defeating Victor Harbor by 128 runs during round eight action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Encounter Bay on Saturday. The Bays batted first and were in early trouble at 4/54 with Victor Harbor skipper Sean Medlen snaring 2/30 (8). Former Macclesfield skipper David Schulze, in his first season at Encounter Bay, was joined by Bays skipper Blake Bailey and this pair set about resurrecting the innings. They added 170 runs for the fifth wicket with Schulze making his first century for the Bays (107 not out off 113), while Bailey finished on 84 not out (80 balls) as they posted 4/224 from their 40 overs. Lachlan Hywood (32) and Josh Boyko (27) tried hard for Victor Harbor but they were never in the run chase as they finished on 8/96. Max Longhurst (3/15), Luke Crichton (2/2) and Chris Butler (2/20) were the multiple wicket takers for the Bays.  

Goolwa kept the pressure on for a top-two spot with a five-wicket victory at Yankalilla. The home side batted first and started well to reach 0/25 in the seventh over, before losing 6/20 to slump to 6/45. Lachlan Whittlesea was playing a lone hand for the Tigers as he top scored with 41 from 117 balls (5 x 4’s) before his side were eventually bowled out for 111 in the 39th over. The Goolwa spinners did most of the damage with the ball with James Lawrence taking 3/11 (8) and Matt Overall 3/29 (8). Andy Evans (34 not out), Overall (30) and Jesse Le Ray (21) were the mainstays of the Goolwa response as the winning runs came up in the 34th over. James Kerin took 2/14 from 4.2 overs for Yankalilla.

Mt Compass kept their finals hopes alive with a five-wicket win at Willunga. The Demons batted first with opening batsman Ramesh Antony top scoring with 23 from 44 balls (3 x 4’s), but he received little support as the home side were bowled out for 109 in the 38th over. Josh Dalitz (3/13), Rob Martin (3/24) and Bailey Baldock (2/20) were the leading wicket takers for the Bulls. Mt Compass were relatively untroubled in the run chase as Paul Barrett carried his bat through the innings to top score with 39 not out (63 balls). Jamarley Daley (25) and Lochie Nash (20) made handy contributions as the winning runs came up in the 29th over. Eddie Last (2/27) and Seb Carius (2/27) were the chief wicket takers for Willunga. 

Ladder-leader Noarlunga got back in the winners circle with a 41-run win at home against Myponga-Sellicks. The Shoes batted first with Jamie Diener and Travis Bronstein adding 87 for the first wicket before Diener was dismissed for a hard-hitting 60 from 36 balls (4 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Bronstein went on to make 37 (87), while Jason Scarff chipped in with 31 (48) as Noarlunga reached 3/164 and a score of 200+ looked on the cards. The Mudlarks hit back hard, taking 7/13, to bowl Noarlunga out for 177. Josh Badenhorst (4/24) and Ryan Haverty (3/36) were the chief wicket takers for Myponga-Sellicks. Sam Tregenza (38), Ryan Haverty (29) and Michael Tomlinson (22) battled hard for their side but ultimately they came up short at 9/136. Six Noarlunga bowlers took wickets with Fletcher Harding (2/13) and Jason Scarff (2/28) the leading wicket takers. 

Port Elliot consolidated second spot with a comfortable seven-wicket win against McLaren Districts at McLaren Vale on Saturday. The home side batted first with opening batsman Stuart Kennewell the standout with 49 from 108 balls (3 x 4’s). No other Crushers batsman reached 20 as they were bowled out for 103 in the 40th over. Ben Martin was the destroyer for Port Elliot with 4/7 from seven overs, while Liam Harris snared 2/22 (7). The Bloods made light work of the run chase with Tyson Levy dominating the innings with a hard-hitting 80 from 56 balls (6 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s) as the target was reached in the 21st over. Hayden Bradley took 2/40 for McLaren Districts. 

Ladder (after round 8)

Noarlunga 46, Port Elliot 40, Goolwa 36, Encounter Bay 30, McLaren Districts 28, Yankalilla 27, Myponga-Sellicks 22, Mt Compass 21, Victor Harbor 6, Willunga 0.

Round 9 (18/1/25 - 1 day games)

Port Elliot v Yankalilla 

Goolwa v Willunga

Myponga-Sellicks v Mt Compass

McLaren Districts v Encounter Bay

Noarlunga v Victor Harbor