McLaren Districts and Encounter Bay are locked in a tight tussle after the first days play at Encounter Bay in round eight action of the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA). McLaren Districts won the toss and elected to bat but they were off to a poor start as they slipped to 3/38. Daniel Petrucci joined Luke Goodieson and this pair combined well to add 51 runs for the fourth wicket before Petrucci was dismissed for 26 (41 balls). Goodieson was next to go for a patient 39 (91 balls) to leave the Crushers at 5/94. Dylan Howie and skipper Stephen Nairn then came together for another handy partnership worth 49 runs for the sixth wicket with Howie making 36 (76 balls) and Nairn 18 (36 balls). McLaren were eventually bowled out in the 68th over for 182. Chris Butler, in just his second game of the season, took 3/33 (15) and he was well supported by Shane Hastings (2/25) and Blake Bailey (2/48). Encounter Bay batted two overs before stumps and reached 1/19 with skipper Cam Lintern dismissed last ball of the day for 10 with Andrew Fechner (1/10) the wicket taker for the Crushers. 

Willunga are well on track to remain undefeated and record their eighth victory of the season as they are 0/16 at stumps on day one after bowling Goolwa out for 83 in their first innings at Goolwa Oval. Magpies skipper Josh Jones (17) and Luke Giddings (9) added 20 for the first wicket before the Magpies collapsed to lose 5/15 and be in all sorts of strife at 5/35. Willunga opening bowler Tye McIvor was doing the damage as he snared season-best figures of 4/14 from 16 overs. Tyron Rigney (19) and Jack Ward (16 not out) tried to resurrect the innings before their side was bowled out in the 60th over. Joel Docking continued his excellent season to take 3/21 (16) while Simon Roberts chipped in with 2/21 from 13 overs. Docking finished off his good day to be 12 not out at the close of play.

Noarlunga are in the box seat to secure their fourth win of 2020/21 after a solid first day at Port Elliot. The home side batted first and were dismissed in the 66th over for 128 with Noarlunga 0/7 (4) at Stumps. Port Elliot got off to a shaky start as they slipped to 2/16 but Colby Whitbourne was in excellent form as he raced to 30 from 49 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x6) before being run out. Joel Harris and Hayden Gordge (20) came together to add 30 runs for the fourth wicket before Gordge was also run out. Harris was the mainstay of the innings as he went on to make a patient 41 from 163 balls (3 x 4’s). David Scarff was the pick of the bowlers for the Shoes with 4/26 (17.1). He was well supported by skipper Jason Scarff who bowled 19 overs on the trot to snare 2/23.