McLaren Districts are well on their way to an outright victory after dominating the first day of their clash with Victor Harbor during round six action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at McLaren Flat yesterday. Victor Harbor batted first and were bowled out for just 63 with Sean Medlen top scoring with 16 (37 balls). All six McLaren Districts bowlers took wickets with Jacob Banks (3/13), Stephen Nairn (2/0) and Keith Schofield (2/18) leading the way. The Crushers wasted no time knocking off the runs in just 20 overs before declaring at 1/94, a lead of 31 runs. Daniel Bruce (45 not out), Jim Ryan (27 not out) and Zac Hodges (21) were the batsmen used by the home side. With 11 overs left in the day, the Vipers came out for their second innings, finishing on 2/10 at stumps, still trailing by 21. Jett Holberton (2/10) took both wickets for McLaren Districts.

Goolwa are in a good position to win their second game in row after posting a competitive total of 217 on day one of their clash at home against Mt Compass. Josh Jones (29), Jack Ward (26), Sam Carlyle (21) and Vic Robertson (20) all made solid contributions for the Magpies. The star of the day for Goolwa however was the in-form Andy Evans. Coming off an undefeated century in the previous game, Evans top scored with 62. His knock included five boundaries and a six. Mt Compass skipper Aaron Dalitz toiled hard to take 4/43 (14.5), while Bailey Baldock snared 3/52 (15).

Top-of-the-table Port Elliot hosted Yankalilla and the game is evenly poised at stumps on day one after ‘Yank’ bowled Port Elliot out for 154 in the 62nd over. Yankalilla will resume day two on 1/10. Tyson Levy (32), Joel Harris (23) and Ethan Spriggs (22) were the leading run scorers for Port Elliot as the Yankalilla bowlers kept it tight throughout. Scott Wilson (3/29), James Kerin (2/18), Luke Bartlett (2/28) and Joe Tyllis (2/53) were the multiple wicket takers for the Tigers. 

It was a good day for the bowlers at Encounter Bay with 14 wickets falling on day one of the clash between the Bays and Myponga-Sellicks. The Mudlarks batted first and were dismissed for 98 in the 44th over. Michael Tomlinson (20), Sean Haverty (18) and Ryan Haverty (17) were the only batsmen to pass 15 runs. Five Encounter Bay bowlers took wickets with Luke Crichton the standout with 5/23 from 12.1 overs. It was Crichton’s maiden five-wicket haul for Encounter Bay in his first season for the club. Encounter Bay had 26 overs to bat before stumps and Myponga-Sellicks battled their way back into the contest to have the home side on 4/45 when stumps were drawn. Cam Lintern (11 not out) and Blake Bailey (2 not out) will be at the crease when the contest resumes on Saturday. Vinnie Nizzola (2/16) and Ryan Haverty (2/19) were the wicket takers for the Mudlarks. 

In a top-four clash at Old Noarlunga, the Shoes hosted Willunga with the home side batting first and putting up a competitive total of 210 before being bowled out off the last ball of the day. Matthew Spaan (21) and the in-form Travis Bronstein (41) started well with an opening stand worth 52 runs. Simon Roberts was brought into the attack for the Demons with the move paying dividends as Roberts took three quick wickets to see Noarlunga under pressure at 3/71. Jason Scarff joined Cam Bullard in a key partnership worth 73 runs as the Shoes reached 3/144 with 20 overs left in the day. Scarff was run out for 25, while Cam Bullard continued on to top score with 88 (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). As is often the case, Roberts was the star for Willunga with the excellent figures of 7/59 from a marathon 28 consecutive overs.