Meadows moved up to second spot on the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder after defeating Aldgate by nine wickets during round 11 action at Aldgate on Saturday. The home side batted first and were soon in trouble at 3/36, before Max Bilsborow (36) joined Will Quigley-Smith (33) in a 68-run fourth wicket stand. Mitch Wise (23 not out) was the only other batsman to pass 20 as the Gaters were restricted to 9/159 from their 45 overs. Rohan Reid (3/26), Zack Robertson (2/26) and Oscar Tydeman (2/31) were the leading wicket takers for the Bulldogs. Meadows wasted no time in the run chase as Tydeman and Reid opened up with a 128-run stand before Reid departed for 54 (50 balls) in just the 14th over. Tydeman went on to make 75 not out from 44 balls (6 x 4’s, 6 x 6’s) as the winning runs came up in the 19th over. Luke Smet (1/13) was the wicket taker for Aldgate. 

Stirling remained two games clear on top of the ladder after defeating Mt Lofty by four wickets at Heathfield. Mt Lofty batted first and were in early trouble at 2/12, before Nick Justice and Josh Healey put on 67 for the third wicket. Healey went on to score 35 (50 balls), while Justice top scored with 50 (104 balls). Stewart Leigh (35) and Connor Milde (21 not out) made handy contributions as the Redcaps were bowled out for 193 in the final over. Charlie Fryer (3/38), Ezekiel Hemming (3/44) and Jack Pick (2/20) led the way with the ball for the Eagles. After losing Harrison Webb (9) early, Stirling skipper Jack Read and Mitch Jude got down to business with a 119-run union for the second wicket before Read was dismissed for 51 (64). Charlie Fryer (21) and Kurt Zytnik (14 not out) made handy cameos at the end of the innings, but Jude was the anchor with 80 from 111 balls (8 x 4’s) as the Eagles brought up victory with 22 balls to spare. Milde (2/31) and Josh Mitchell (2/44) were the multiple wicket takers for Mt Lofty. 

Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) moved back inside the top four after a low-scoring 48-run victory over Kangarilla at Cherry Gardens. SCIB batted first and were in all sorts of strife at 7/78 with Aaron Thompson (30) the only top-six batsman to make it to double figures. The SCIB lower order stepped up through Matthew Dunn (28) and Andy Adams (22) as they managed to post a total of 144 before being bowled out in the 39th over. Jack Evans (3/25), Steve Featherstone (3/36), Bradley Ross (2/23) and Che Martinsen (2/25) were the wicket takers for Kangarilla. The ‘Kangies’ run chase never got going with Jake Turnbull (30) and Ross (24) the only players to pass 20 as they were bowled out for 96 in the 35th over. Jayden Rea was the star with the ball for SCIB with 6/33 (8.1 overs), while Adams snared 2/18 (9). 

Uraidla had the bye.

Ladder (after round 11)

Stirling 28, Meadows 20, Mt Lofty 18, Scott Creek Ironbank 16, Aldgate 16, Kangarilla 12, Uraidla 10. 

Round 12 (17/1/26 - home team named first)

Meadows v Stirling

Kangarilla v Mt Lofty

Scott Creek Ironbank v Uraidla

Aldgate has the bye