The Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) finals commenced on Saturday with Encounter Bay and Noarlunga progressing through to week two of the finals series. Encounter Bay took on McLaren Districts at Mount Compass (Burgess Oval) in a match where an amazing 33 wickets fell. McLaren Districts batted first and were bowled out for just 63 in the 33rd over. Daniel Hoskin top scored with 13 (30 balls) for the Crushers. Bays’ skipper Blake Bailey was the destroyer with 5/18 from 13.1 overs, and he was well supported by Chris Butler (3/21). In the run chase, Encounter Bay were cruising at 2/43, with Finn Magor (18) top scoring, before a collapse of 6/13 saw them in strife at 8/56 and still eight runs short of victory. However, Caleb Polson (16 not out) got his side to safety before the Bays were bowled out for 79, an overall lead of 16 runs. Jett Holberton (4/31), Keith Schofield (3/17) and Jacob Banks (2/7) were the leading wicket takers for the Crushers. Batting a second time, McLaren Districts went after quick runs to try and set Encounter Bay some sort of target. Wickets fell regularly with Mark Elphick (27) the only batsman to pass 20, as his side were bowled out for 83. Bailey completed an excellent match with the ball for the Bays with 5/33 (9), giving him match figures of 10/51, while Chris Butler once again gave great support with 3/48 (8.1). This left Encounter Bay to get the small target of 68 runs for outright victory. Holberton (2/9) struck early to reduce the Bays to 2/3, before Sam Hoffmann (18 not out) and Magor (14) steadied the ship, and then rain washed out the remainder of the day with the score at 3/39. Encounter Bay will now face Port Elliot this weekend at Burgess Oval for a spot in the Grand Final. 

Noarlunga booked their spot in the semi-final against Goolwa, with a tight three-wicket win against Myponga-Sellicks at Encounter Bay. The Mudlarks batted first and got themselves into a good position at 3/78 with handy efforts from Michael Tomlinson (29) and Sean Haverty (26). Noarlunga hit back hard to take the last 7/22 as Myponga-Sellicks were bowled out for 100 in the 54th over. Can Bullard was the star with the ball for the Shoes with the excellent figures of 6/32 from a marathon 22 overs, while Ben Stewart-Tonkin snared 3/19 from 13 overs. Noarlunga had 16 overs to bat before stumps and they finished the day on 3/43. On day two, Jason Scarff (29), Matthew Spaan (20) and Sam Hehir (14) made handy contributions as the winning runs came up in the 40th over. Vinnie Nizzola (2/28) and Mitchell Farquhar (2/33) were the multiple wicket takers for the Mudlarks. 

Semi Finals (11/3/23 & 12/3/23)

Goolwa v Noarlunga (Encounter Bay)

Port Elliot v Encounter Bay (Burgess Oval)