Aldgate moved up to third spot on the ladder after defeating Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) by three wickets during round 14 action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Aldgate on Saturday. SCIB batted first and were in early trouble at 2/24, before Stuart Norton (24) combined with James Wissell to add 41 runs for the third wicket. Wissell went on to make 47 (75 balls), while Darcy Campbell (49 off 48) and Andy Adams (31 off 39) helped lift their side to a total of 205. Connor Payne (4/39) was the leading wicket taker for the Gaters, while Luke Smet (2/30) and Max Bilsborow (2/42) were the other multiple wicket takers. Aldgate were in all sorts of strife as they slipped to 6/102 with Will Quigley-Smith (33) the only top-six batsman to pass 20. Ollie Clements joined Smet at the crease and this pair set off on a rescue mission for the Gaters as they added 86 runs for the seventh wicket. Clements hit a quickfire 60 from 45 balls (2 x 4’s, 6 x 6’s), while Smet finished with 54 not out (68) as the winning runs came up in the 43rd over. Daniel Desengo (2/31) was the leading wicket taker for Scott Creek Ironbank. 

Mt Lofty are back in the top-four after a four-wicket victory over Uraidla at Heathfield Oval. Uraidla batted first with Luke Schapel (38), Felix Gadomski-Mott (28) and Daniel McDonough (28) getting their side into a good position at 2/89 in the 17th over. That was as good as it got for Uraidla as they lost 8/55 to be bowled out for 144 in the 34th over. Josh Healey (3/16), Max Hawke (3/21), Adam Carthew (2/20) and Anthony Jennings (2/39) were the wicket takers for the Redcaps. Mt Lofty were in all sorts of trouble in the run chase as they slumped to 6/78 with Uraidla opening bowler Simon Parker doing the damage with 3/22 (9). Mt Lofty were saved by an excellent partnership between Connor Milde (24 not out) and Anthony Jennings (34 not out) worth 67 runs to see the home side home in the 36th over. Mt Lofty’s cause was aided by Uraidla conceding a whopping 36 extras. 

Kangarilla had a very important five-wicket win over Meadows to move within half a game of the top-four. Meadows batted first with Rohan Reid (62 off 85) and Luke Tonkin (29 off 62) the best of the Bulldogs batsmen as they posted 7/157 from their 45 overs. Troy Martinsen (2/17) and Ben Evans (2/30) were the leading wicket takers for Kangarilla. Steve Featherstone got ‘Kangies’ off to a fast start with 30 (32), but at 4/45 the game had swung in favour of Meadows. Lenny Berkefeld (28) added 44 with skipper Jake Turnbull, before Michael White made a quickfire 43 from 39 balls (3 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) to see his side home in the 44th over. Turnbull remained 45 not out (106) to top score. Zack Robertson (2/30) and Callan Blackwell (2/34) were the multiple wicket takers for the Bulldogs. 

Stirling had the bye.

Ladder (after round 14)

Stirling 32, Meadows 28, Aldgate 24, Mt Lofty 22, Scott Creek Ironbank 20, Kangarilla 20, Uraidla 10. 

Round 15 (14/2/26 - home team named first)

Mt Lofty v Uraidla 

Scott Creek Ironbank v Meadows

Uraidla v Stirling

Kangarilla has the bye