The Hills Cricket Association (HCA) T20 competition got underway yesterday with four games in round 1. In Pool A, Bridgewater hosted Meadows in a thriller with the home team winning by three runs. Ty Watson top scored for the Raiders with 51 (44 balls), while Jarrad Tait made 45 not out (34) as Bridgewater posted 4/151 from their 20 overs. Rohan Reid (2/28) was the leading wicket taker for Meadows. In the run chase, Oscar Tydeman top scored for Meadows with a hard-hitting 47 from 22 balls (4 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s), while Rohan Reid (37) and Chad Dawe (25) chipped in, but ultimately the Bulldogs came up short at 8/148. Watson was the star with the ball for the home side with 4/21 from his four overs. 

The other game in Pool A was also a tight affair with Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) defeating Stirling by eight runs at Cherry Gardens. The game was dominated by the batsmen with 350 runs made for the day. SCIB batted first with Sam Hill getting them off to a flier with 54 from 27 balls (5 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Jarrod Thompson (30 not out) and Tom Watton (22) helped lift the home side to 7/179 after their 20 overs. Stirling skipper Jack Read took 2/34 from his four-over spell. The Eagles got themselves into a good position through a second wicket stand between Kurt Zytnik and Bayley James (34) which took them to 1/103. Wickets fell consistently once this partnership was broken with Zytnik continuing on to top score with an excellent 94 from 56 balls (11 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). In the end, Stirling fell eight runs short at 7/171 with SCIB veteran Andy Adams the pick of the bowlers with 2/20 (4).

In Pool B, Kangarilla had a convincing nine-wicket victory over Aldgate at The Swamp. The Gaters batted first and struggled their way to 7/108 from their 20 overs. Aldgate skipper Josh Callaghan was the standout for his side with 75 not out from 46 balls (6 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s) with only one other batsman, James Anthony (12), reaching double figures. Jack Evans (2/12) and Baxter Knuckey (2/28) were the multiple wicket takers for Kangarilla. 'Kangies' cruised to victory inside 14 overs with Steve Featherstone (40), Jake Turnbull (38 not out) and Joel Stidston (28 not out) leading the way. 

The other game in Pool B was a low-scoring affair with Mt Lofty getting the chocolates with a five-wicket victory at Heathfield Oval. Mylor batted first with Joel Durnford (33) and Dylan Quinn (30 not out) the leading scorers for the Pipers as they were restricted to 7/108. Adam Carthew (3/27) and Will Healey (2/14) were the pick of the bowlers for the Redcaps. Josh Mitchell with 40 from 21 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) and Nick Justice 38 (45) got the home side off to an excellent start. Mylor bowler Nick Cook (3/17) slowed the Redcaps’ progress, but eventually Mt Lofty knocked off the winning runs in the 18th over. 

Round 2 (A1 T20 competition - 14/12/24)

Stirling v Bridgewater

Meadows v Scott Creek Ironbank

Mylor v Aldgate

Kangarilla v Mt Lofty