Flagstaff Hill moved into second spot on the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder following an excellent five-wicket win over Meadows at Flagstaff Hill on Saturday. Meadows batted first and Jack Walton struck early to dismiss the dangerous Luke Tonkin (5). This brought skipper Rohan Reid to the crease to join brother Haydn and this pair set about getting the Bulldogs’ innings going with a 43-run second wicket stand before Haydn Reid was dismissed for 17 (43 balls). Rohan Reid (28 from 55 balls) was next to go as Meadows were struggling at 3/64. Worse was to follow as the reigning premier lost their last seven wickets for just 40 runs with only Max Buckley (18 from 30 balls) putting up any resistance. Meadows were eventually bowled out for 104 in the 35th over. James Patterson was the pick of the Falcons bowlers as he snared 3/26 (8). Angus Heaton (2/12) and Walton (2/15) were the other multiple wicket takers. Meadows took to the field in search of early wickets and the returning Angus Frazer (2/20 off six overs) gave them some hope as he removed both openers to leave Flaggies in a bit of trouble at 2/23. Heaton and Oliver Styles (10) then joined together to add 22 runs for the third wicket before Styles was removed to leave the score at 3/45 and Meadows had a slight sniff of an improbable victory. However it wasn’t to be as Stephen Wheatland came in and made a quickfire 20 (26 balls) while Heaton steered the Falcons to victory in the 34th over with a fine 44 not out (90 balls). 

Stirling notched their first win of 2020/21 as they ground out a two-wicket victory over Kangarilla at Stirling Oval. The home side sent Kangarilla into bat and Kangies got off to a flier with Cole Davy (20 from 14 balls) and Steve Featherstone (29) adding 27 for the first wicket. Featherstone and Matthew Bertelsmeier (7) added another 38 runs for the second wicket to get the visitors up to 1/65. It was slow going with the bat and this led to a middle order collapse as Kangies lost 5/19 to slip to a precarious score of 6/84. Skipper Che Martinsen (29) and Ben Evans (15) got some momentum back into the innings but ultimately Kangarilla were bowled out for 124 in the 40th over. Jacob Kemp (3/15), Pete Fryer (3/16) and Kosta Sinodinos (2/18) were the stars for the Eagles with the ball. The Stirling run chase started badly with Daniel Gonzalez (1) removed by Martinsen with the score at 1/4. This brought Sinodinos to the crease to join opener Myles Collins as Stirling started to get on top. Their partnership realised 42 runs for the second wicket before Collins was removed for 17 (51 balls). Sinodinos continued to provide stability through the Eagles innings as he made a fine 53 (87 balls) but at 8/114, it was ‘game on’. It was left to youngster Kemp and veteran Fryer to add 12 runs for the ninth wicket to get the Eagles over the line with three balls to spare. Ben Evans (3/26), Martinsen (2/13) and Featherstone (2/31) battled hard with the ball for Kangarilla. 

Uraidla won their second game of the season with a five-wicket victory over Scott Creek Ironbank at Cherry Gardens Oval. The home side batted first and posted a competitive total of 6/147 from their 40 overs, their highest score of the season so far. Darcy Campbell dominated the innings for Scott Creek Ironbank as he made his highest ‘A’ grade score with a gutsy 72 from 113 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6’s). Andy Adams (20) and youngster Zane Lewis (13 not out) played solid support roles for Campbell. Five Uraidla bowlers took wickets with Renzo Gaetan (2/31) the multiple wicket taker for Uraidla. Scott Creek ironbank started their bowling stint well as Danny Coleman (1/23) removed the dangerous Alex Heptinstall (8) to leave the visitors at 1/13. Ben Sheppard (22) and Thomas Bassett (15) made handy contributions but it was teenager Mitch Makings who was the star of the Uraidla innings as he scored 42 from 60 balls (5 x 4’s) to get the Demons close to victory. Ryan Hunter (20 not out) and skipper Michael Parker (14 not out) got their side across the line in the 37th over. Adams was the pick of the Scott Creek Ironbank bowlers with figures of 2/18 from six overs. 

Aldgate held on to defeat Mount Lofty by 11 runs at Aldgate Oval and are now the only undefeated team in the competition after three rounds. Aldgate batted first and were in plenty of strife early as they slipped to 4/40. Josh Callaghan remained resilient as wickets fell around him and he found a willing ally in Harry Morbey. These two resurrected the Gaters innings with a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket before Morbey was removed for 32 from 39 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Callaghan was then joined by Jack Woollard as Aldgate started to take control with a 48-run sixth wicket partnership before Callaghan was removed in the 37th over for a fighting 50 from 101 balls (3 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). All hell broke loose in the final two overs with Aldgate scoring 40 runs, Woollard hitting 37 of them, as he finished his first knock as an Aldgate player with 58 not out from 38 balls (4 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). The home side finished with a competitive score of 8/188 from their 40 overs. Aaron Smith (4/36) and Adam Carthew (2/36) were the multiple wicket takers for Mount Lofty. Smith got the Redcaps off to a flier with 13 from 10 balls until he was bowled by Woollard to have the visitors 1/23. Carthew was joined by skipper Jordan Neis-Beer in an excellent partnership worth 62 runs for the second wicket before Carthew was dismissed for 48 from 63 balls (6 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Neis-Beer continued on to make 62 from 100 balls (2 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s) but the Redcaps couldn’t keep up with the required run rate as they were bowled out for 177 in the 40th over. Skipper Jake Turnbull (2/21), Woollard (2/25) and Perry Edwards (2/51) were the multiple wicket takers for Aldgate. “We are very happy to remain undefeated after a tight win. Josh and Harry got us back in the game and Jack finished the innings off well to give us good momentum into the field,” said Aldgate captain Jake Turnbull.

Ladder (after round 3)

Aldgate 18, Flagstaff Hill 12, Mount Lofty 12, Uraidla 12, Kangarilla 6, Meadows 6, Stirling 6, Scott Creek Ironbank 0.

Round 4 fixtures (home teams named first)

Mount Lofty v Meadows

Kangarilla v Aldgate

Stirling v Uraidla

Flagstaff Hill v Scott Creek Ironbank