Flagstaff Hill has taken over on top of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder with their third win of the season, this time by seven wickets over Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Flagstaff Hill. SCIB won the toss and batted first and that was pretty much where the good news ended for the visitors as they were rolled for just 43 in the 28th over. Veteran Andy Adams (13) was the only batsman to make double figures. Playing his first ‘A’ grade game for the Falcons after moving from Kangarilla this season, Lenny Berkefeld was the chief destroyer with the amazing figures of 5/4 from six overs! James Patterson (2/7) and Jack Walton (2/14) were the other multiple wicket takers. Patterson has taken nine wickets at an average of 7.89 so far in 2020/21 to be equal top of the HCA wicket takers list this season. Flagstaff Hill made the runs in just 11 overs as they finished on 3/44. Ollie Styles top scored with 19 while Matt Emes made 15 not out. Danny Coleman held his head high for Scott Creek Ironbank with 3/4 from three overs. 

Meadows moved back inside the top-four on the HCA ladder following a tight three-wicket win over Mount Lofty at Heathfield Oval. Mount Lofty batted first and got off to a good start with the returning Josh Healey (27) and James Kittel-Neill (39) adding 41 runs for the first wicket. Once Healey and Kittel-Neill were dismissed, the Redcaps fell to 4/82 before Aaron Smith and Adam Carthew came together to put on 77 for the fifth wicket. Smith went on to top score with 48 (65 balls) while Carthew continued his good recent form to make 38 (64 balls). The home side ended up with a competitive total of 7/171 from their 40 overs. Four Meadows bowlers got wickets with Cal Blackwell (3/30) the standout. After losing Luke Tonkin (9) early, Rohan Reid joined brother Haydn and the experienced duo added 42 runs for the second wicket before Haydn was dismissed for 21. Wickets fell at regular intervals after that and at 7/151, it was anyone’s game as teenager Oscar Tydeman (10 not out) joined his skipper Rohan Reid. It was a cricketing case of ‘the master and the apprentice’ as the pair pushed the Bulldogs to victory with 11 balls to spare after an undefeated 22-run stand for the eighth wicket. Reid finished with a match-winning 86 not out from 96 balls (8 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). “It was a great game of Cricket,” said Meadows skipper Rohan Reid. “The game ebbed and flowed and Mount Lofty took advantage of us dropping a number of catches. We managed to peg them back in the end through some tight bowling from Cal, Max, Chad & Kris to keep them to 171. With the bat we continue to give away some cheap wickets but we managed to get the win in the end and we also had some luck with a few dropped catches.”

Kangarilla pulled off a sensational five-run win over previously undefeated Aldgate at Kangarilla Oval to move up to third spot on the ladder. Aldgate appeared to be cruising to victory at 2/70 chasing Kangarilla’s total of 8/121 before a collapse of 8/46 saw the Gaters bowled out for 116 in the 40th over. Earlier Kangarilla were also in a strong position at 3/98 before their innings stalled in the latter overs as Aldgate restricted their run scoring. The key partnership for Kangies was between Matthew Bertelsmeier (48 from 91 balls) and teenager Lachlan Knight (32 from 69 balls). This pair came together at 3/37 and put on 61 for the fourth wicket. Jack Woollard (3/24) and Matty Hansen (2/22) were the multiple wicket takers for Aldgate while skipper Jake Turnbull was very economical with 1/8 from his eight overs. Mitch Thomas (25) continued his good early season form and with Liam Winskill (18) and the returning Frank Clements (17) adding 34 for the third wicket, all seemed rosy for Aldgate. The game was turned on its head as Kangarilla skipper Che Martinsen bowled an inspired spell to snare 3/7 from his eight overs while Jack Evans took 3/34 (7.4). Steve Featherstone proved very hard to get away through the middle of the innings as he took 1/8 (8). Turnbull tried to lift his side over the line with 27 not out from 32 balls but it was to no avail as the home side won their second game of the season. “I was very excited to see both Bertelsmeier and Knight get some runs, especially Knight who at 17 years of age batted beyond his years,” said Martinsen. “We started off our bowling innings a little inconsistently but we managed to take a few wickets. After drinks we knew that the next five to 10 overs would be key. ‘Feathers’ bowled eight straight overs and I bowled six straight and we took some key wickets and didn’t go for many runs. We needed that win to keep us in touch with the top teams.”

Stirling won their second game in a row after defeating Uraidla by five wickets at Stirling Oval. Uraidla batted first and really struggled against a disciplined Eagles attack. Teenager Mason Pitt (10) was the only Demons batsman to make double figures as the visitors were rolled for just 63 in the 40th over. Five Stirling bowlers took wickets with Kosta Sinodinos returning the amazing figures of 3/3 from his eight overs! He was ably supported by Pete Fryer (2/6) and the returning Chris Shaw (2/8). It appeared to be an easy proposition for the home sided but at 5/32, Uraidla had the scent of an incredible victory in their nostrils. The experienced Fryer was the key to the Eagles and along with Jacob Kemp (7 not out), they got their side over the line to win by five wickets in the 22nd over. Fryer went on to make 24 not out from 47 balls (2 x 4’s). Fryer has batted on four occasions this season and is yet to be dismissed while making 70 runs. For Uraidla, Simon Parker (3/20) and teenager George Bond (2/18) took all five wickets to fall.

Ladder (after round 4)

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

Round 5 fixtures (home team named first)

Kangarilla v Meadows

Stirling v Aldgate

Mount Lofty v Scott Creek Ironbank

Uraidla v Flagstaff Hill