Stirling remained undefeated after a comfortable 63-run win at Kangarilla during round two action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) on Saturday. Stirling batted first with skipper Jack Read getting his side off to a fast start with a quickfire 32 from 19 balls (3 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). The key partnership of the innings was between Harrison Webb (69 not out) and Connor McFadyen (66) who added 82 runs for the third wicket as the Eagles posted 4/222 from their 45 overs. Steve Featherstone was the pick of the Kangarilla bowlers with 2/24 (9). ‘Kangies’ were never really in the run chase as they finished on 9/159. Skipper Jake Turnbull (53 not out) and Featherstone (28) were the leading run scorers, while McFadyen (3/33) and Webb (2/15) were the multiple wicket takers for Stirling.

Mylor won their first game of the season as former state player Tom Plant inspired his side to victory over Meadows by 64 runs. Plant carried his bat for 95 not out from 132 balls (7 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s) as the Pipers put up 8/185 from their 45 overs. David Carter (26) added 57 for the fifth wicket with Plant, while Tom Jensen (16 not out) put on an invaluable 47 runs for the ninth wicket with Plant to set a tough target for Meadows. Brad Louch (2/23) and David Bates (2/41) were the leading wicket takers for the Bulldogs. Rohan Reid (34) and Luke Tonkin (26) got Meadows into a reasonable position at 1/60 in the run chase, but the Bulldogs lost their last 9/61 to be bowled out for 121 in the 42nd over. Six Mylor bowlers took wickets with Nick Cook (3/28), Plant (2/13) and Jesse Cooper (2/16) leading the way.

Bridgewater also won their first game of the season with a comfortable six-wicket win at home against Aldgate. The Raiders bowled tightly throughout as they restricted the Gaters to a score of 117 before they were bowled out in the 45th over. Pierce Cordes-Harvey (38 off 42 balls) and James Anthony (21) were the only batsmen to pass 20. Caleb Risson (4/16), Flynn Smith (3/34) and Jarrad Tait (2/10) were the leading wicket takers, while Ty Watson bowled an incredibly miserly spell of 0/4 from nine overs (including five maidens). Bridgewater were relatively untroubled in the run chase with good contributions from Luke Hoyle (24), Tait (23 not out), Peter Atkins (22) and Justin Summerill (20) as they brought up the winning runs in the 24th over. 

Reigning premier Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) made it two-from-two with a 30-run win in the grand final rematch at Heathfield Oval against Mount Lofty. SCIB batted first with Aaron Thompson (55 off 58), Stuart Norton (34 off 28) and Lachlan Knight (27 off 42) helping their side to a competitive total of 196 before they were bowled out in the 43rd over. Josh Mitchell (3/33), Adam Carthew (2/17) and Connor Milde (2/36) were the multiple wicket takers for the Redcaps. The Mount Lofty innings was dominated by opening batsman Josh Healey who top scored with 86 from 87 balls (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). Unfortunately for the Redcaps, no other batsman reached 20 as they were bowled out in the 41st over for 166. Five SCIB bowlers took wickets with veteran Andy Adams the pick with 2/17 (9), while Ben McGowan snared 2/32 (7.4).

Ladder (after round 2)

Stirling 12, Scott Creek Ironbank 12, Bridgewater 6, Mylor 6, Mt Lofty 6, Aldgate 6, Meadows 0, Kangarilla 0.

Round 3 (home team named first)

Stirling v Mt Lofty

Mylor v Kangarilla

Aldgate v Meadows

Scott Creek Ironbank v Bridgewater