Meadows won their second game of the season after knocking top-of-the-ladder Aldgate off their perch during round eight action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Meadows on Saturday. The game was reduced to a 35-over per side contest with Aldgate batting first and the Gaters got off to a solid start with Josh Callaghan (31) and Mitch Thomas (19) adding 50 runs for the first wicket. After this good start, the wheels fell off as the visitors lost regular wickets to slip to a precarious 7/93. Luke Smet (26) and James Anthony (18) helped lift their side to a total of 125 before being bowled out in the final over. Zack Robertson (3/13) and Callan Blackwell (2/24) were the multiple wicket takers for Meadows. Luke Tonkin and Rohan Reid put paid to any chance of victory for Aldgate as they put on a 100-run stand for the first wicket before Tonkin departed for 30 (58 balls). Reid went on to top score with 81 off 63 balls (14 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the Bulldogs knocked off the target with eight wickets and more than 10 overs to spare. Jack Woollard (1/28) and Mitch Wise (1/35) were the wicket takers for Aldgate.

Kangarilla won their fifth game in a row and have moved to the top of the HCA ladder after a comfortable six-wicket win at home against Stirling. Stirling, with seven changes from the previous week, batted first and struggled their way to 9/130 from their 45 overs. Connor McFadyen top scored for the Eagles with 41 (75 balls), while Wil Scherer made 24 (62 balls). Che Martinsen (3/31) and Ben Evans (3/32) were the leading wicket takers for Kangarilla. Kangarilla started steadily in the run chase with Steve Featherstone (25) and Joel Stidston (11) putting on 45 for the first wicket. Skipper Lachlan Knight (35 not out) and Michael White (31) saw their side to victory with 31 balls to spare. Sam Johnson (2/23) McFadyen (1/27) and Scherer (1/11) were the wicket takers for Stirling. 

Mylor won their third game in four weeks after a six-wicket win against Mount Lofty at Cherry Gardens. The game was reduced to 35 overs per side with the Redcaps batting first. Mount Lofty had plenty of batsmen get starts including Josh Mitchell (22), Jordan Neis-Beer (22), Tim Noble (20 not out) and Nick Justice (19), but none of them went on to post a big score as the Redcaps were bowled out in the 33rd over for 134. Oliver Barnes was the leading wicket taker for Mylor with figures of 3/26 (6.3) and he was well supported by skipper Michael Warburton (2/15) and Tom Plant (2/23). The Pipers were relatively untroubled in the run chase with the key partnership coming between Tom Plant and Shane Maslin. This pair added 80 runs for the third wicket with Plant making 46 (96 balls), while Maslin finished with 43 not out (48 balls) with the winning runs coming up with 21 balls to spare. Josh Healey (2/9) and Mitchell (2/27) were the leading wicket takers for Mount Lofty. 

Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) won their sixth game of the season with a hard-fought three-wicket win at Bridgewater against the Raiders. The game was also reduced to 35 overs with Bridgewater batting first. The Raiders were soon in big trouble as they slumped to 6/28 with SCIB opening bowler Ben McGowan winding back the clock as he snared 5/18 from his seven-over spell. Jarrad Tait (29 not out) and skipper Justin Summerill (22) added 46 runs for the seventh wicket, while Brent Sutcliffe (23 not out) and Anthony Jennings (20) helped the tail wag to lift the total to 9/122. Scott Creek Ironbank were also in trouble early in the run chase at 4/33 before veteran Andy Adams and Jarrod Thompson came together to put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket. Adams went on to top score with 56 (7 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s), while Thompson made 28 not out (1 x 6, 1 x 4) as the winning runs came up with 12 balls to spare. Jennings (2/4), Peter Atkins (2/21) and Summerill (2/30) were the leading wicket takers for Bridgewater. 

Ladder (after round 8)

Kangarilla 36, Scott Creek Ironbank 36, Aldgate 30, Stirling 24, Mt Lofty 24, Mylor 18, Bridgewater 12, Meadows 12.

Round 9 fixtures (home teams named first)

Mylor v Bridgewater

Scott Creek Ironbank v Meadows

Kangarilla v Mt Lofty

Aldgate v Stirling