After an excellent first round win, the Fleurieu & Districts side came back down to earth yesterday after suffering a 71-run loss to Alice Springs in their second game of the Senior Country Cup at Sandy Creek. Alice Springs batted first and were soon in trouble as they slipped to 5/50 with Aaron Zrim (2/33), Jack Woollard (2/49) and Troy Blackwell (1/27) doing the damage for Fleurieu & Districts. Patrick Hannigan (51 not out) and Samindra Madushan (35) combined for an important 63-run partnership for the sixth wicket and then Lucas Nitschke (48 not out from 38 balls) gave the innings some impetus by adding 66 runs for the eighth wicket with Hannigan as Alice Springs posted a very competitive total of 8/206 from their 50 overs. John Zadow (2/37) was the other multiple wicket taker for Fleurieu & Districts.

After losing Mitch Weeks (0) early, Fleurieu & Districts steadied through skipper Jared Marston and Ryan King with this pair adding 36 runs for the second wicket before King was dismissed for 23. James Dawson (0) went soon after to leave the Fleurieu side in trouble at 3/37. Marston’s Mypolonga team mate Aaron Zrim was next in, and after surviving a confident appeal for a catch in the slips before he’d scored, Zrim batted with authority to reach 27 from 31 balls before he was dismissed with the score at 4/90. Sunday’s hero with the bat, Frank Clements, was next in and he and Marston started to put their side on top before Marston was dismissed for a fine 59. Clements (8) went shortly afterwards as Fleurieu & Districts collapsed to lose their last 6/16 to be bowled out for 135 in the 31st over. Nitschke continued his fine game for Alice Springs as he snared 4/12 and he was well supported by Madushan (3/32) and Thineth Arachchige (2/27). Fleurieu & Districts have the day off today with their next game against South East to be played tomorrow at Stockwell.