Stirling defeated reigning premier Mount Lofty by five runs in a thrilling preliminary final at Heathfield yesterday to advance to their first Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ‘A’ grade grand final since 1994/95. The game came down to the final over with the Redcaps needing 11 runs to win with the last pair of Dave Bennett and Max Hawke at the crease. Myles Collins was tasked with bowling the last over, which was actually his only over of the innings, and he held his nerve to concede just five runs and send the Eagles to the decider at Meadows next Saturday. Earlier in the day, Mount Lofty won the toss and sent Stirling in and the Eagles got off to a good start with Jack Read (31) and Daniel Gonzalez (15) adding 38 runs for the first wicket. Five quick wickets fell as Mount Lofty got right on top with the Eagles collapsing to 5/59. Teenager Charlie Fryer joined Harrison Webb in what would prove to be a match-defining partnership worth 70 runs for the sixth wicket before Fryer was dismissed for 25 (37 balls). Webb continued on to top score with 54 from 54 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) before being dismissed off the last ball of the innings as Stirling posted a competitive total of 9/152. Adam Carthew was the star for Mount Lofty with the ball with the brilliant figures of 6/30 from his eight overs. 

The Redcaps struggled in the run chase early as Stirling kept it tight through Jack Read (1/20), Chris Shaw (1/25) and Dan Parfitt (1/28) with Mount Lofty reaching drinks at 3/49 (20). Redcaps skipper Jordan Neis-Beer held the key to his team's hopes as he built handy partnerships with Stewart Leigh (17) and Sam Furber (15) to get his team to 4/106. Kosta Sinodinos (3/22) came back into the attack with immediate impact as he took three wickets in two overs, and the game appeared over when Stirling skipper Jack Pick (3/32) dismissed Neis-Beer for 42 (90 balls) leaving the Redcaps needing 41 runs from the last four overs. Some lusty hitting from Bennett (22 not out) and Peter Giannes (10) gave the reigning premier hope, until Collins snuffed them out in the last over to send Stirling to the decider and a chance at their first ‘A’ grade flag in 28 years.

All other grades played their grand finals over the weekend with Mylor winning the A2 flag after defeating Mount Lofty by eight wickets, while Mylor also won the A3 premiership with a tight 16-run win over Bridgewater. Aldgate won the under 16’s flag after a comfortable 49-run win against Onkaparinga/Woodside, while the under 14’s grand final wasn’t played, with the premiership being shared between Aldgate and Onkaparinga, due to multiple players from Onkaparinga being unavailable due to Covid.

Grand Final (Saturday 26 March @ 1.00pm)

Meadows v Stirling (Meadows)