Hahndorf are the only undefeated team in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) after they beat Lobethal by 31 runs during round two action at Hahndorf on Saturday. The Magpies won the toss and decided to bat first and they posted a very competitive total of 218 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Benny Montgomerie (51), Ryan Trafford-Walker (46), Henry Hassold (31) and Greg Hassold (30) were the mainstays of the Hahndorf innings. Josh Birtles (3/28), Riley Harten (2/22) and Tanner King (2/44) were the multiple wicket takers for a Lobethal team missing more than half their regular lineup. Lobethal battled hard in the run chase with teenager Sam Martin opening the batting and top scoring with a gritty 62 from 104 balls (4 x 4’s). Plenty of other batsmen got starts with only stand-in skipper Blake Shaw (28) passing 20 as the Tigers were contained to 9/187 from their allotted 45 overs. Ryan Trafford-Walker was best with the ball for the home side as he captured 4/33 (9), while teenager Henry Hassold also completed a fine double with 2/32 (7). 

Macclesfield won their first game in AEHCA ‘A’ grade ranks since the 2005/06 season after they pulled off a tense 15-run win against Bremer/Callington on the turf at Callington. The visitors were sent in by the Cobras and it was tough going as ‘Maccy’ struggled their way to 8/106 from their 45 overs. Skipper David Caddle led from the front with 32 not out and he was well supported by Josh Lewis-Burns with 25. Five Bremer/Callington bowlers took wickets with skipper Jai McMurtrie (2/14) and Amit Maina (2/17) leading the way. The home side's run chase started disastrously as they slipped to a precarious 6/27, and it appeared the Redbacks were well on their way to their first win of the season. In his first game for the club in more than five years, Chris Davis was proving hard to shift as he ground out a game high score of 34 from 90 balls, while Maina was the only other Cobras batsman to reach double figures with 14 not out. In the end, Macclesfield held their nerve to bowl the Cobras out for 91 in the 42nd over. Opening bowler Lachlan Barrett bowled a great spell to finish with 3/12 from his nine overs and he was well supported by Connor Moore (2/15), Luke Jones (2/17) and Jay Dawson (2/19). 

Reigning premier Nairne are on the board in 2021/22 with their first win of the season, a tough, low-scoring 19-run win against Langhorne Creek at Nairne. Luke Timmins won the toss and decided his Nairne side would bat first. The Razorbacks innings never really got going with the biggest partnership being 39 for the fifth wicket between Mitch Hein (22) and James Graves (14). Other handy contributors for Nairne were Luke Timmins (27), Jarrad Tait (25) and Shane Kenney (15) which lifted the Razorbacks to a total of 154 before they were bowled out in the 44th over. Langhorne Creek captain Dan Cleggett took the bowling honours with figures of 4/45 from his nine overs. Dan Kropp (2/15), Adam Clements (2/18) and Troy Blackwell (2/25) gave great support to their skipper. Kropp (38) and Shannon Jones (29) got the ‘Creeks’ off to a fast start as they put on 51 for the first wicket. Caleb Walker, in his first game for the club, got the all-important wicket of Kropp on his way to figures of 2/36 (6). Unfortunately for the Tigers, no other batsman could reach 20 as the experienced pair of Matt Hein (3/21) and Tait (2/16) strangled the life out of the visitors to bowl them out in the 38th over for 135.

Strathalbyn got themselves on the winners list for the first time this season with a hard fought 19-run win at home against Woodside. With the rain that was around leading up to the game, it was always going to be a good toss to win, and Woodside skipper Shane Collins had no hesitation in asking the Stallions to bat first. It appeared a good move as both Strathalbyn openers were removed by Steve Ball (2/32) to leave the home side struggling at 2/15. Former skipper Mark Abbott came to the crease and with cousin Matt, added a very important 66 runs for the third wicket before Matt was dismissed for 25 from 51 balls. Mark went on to top score with a fine 55 from 91 balls (8 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Brayden Gaiter added a very handy 24 not out (24 balls) at the end as ‘Strath’ posted 7/152 from their 45 overs. Nick Johns jnr was the other multiple wicket taker for Woodside with 2/34. The Warriors also lost a couple of early wickets to slip to 2/16 before Will Dunstall and Tommy Baldock came together to steady the ship with a 36-run third wicket stand before Baldock was dismissed for 24 (52 balls). Dunstall continued on to top score with 38 (81 balls) and Shane Collins made 22 (43 balls), as the visitors reached 5/111 and they were in sight of victory. Enter Blake Beelitz, who ran through the Stallions lower order to snare 4/23 from 5.1 overs to see Woodside bowled out for 133 in the 44th over. Gaiter chimed in with 3/30 (8) in his first win as captain of the Stallions.

Round 3 fixture (home team named first)

Langhorne Creek v Woodside

Nairne v Strathalbyn

Bremer/Callington v Hahndorf

Macclesfield v Lobethal

Ladder (after round 2)

Hahndorf 8, Woodside 4, Langhorne Creek 4, Macclesfield 4, Lobethal 4, Strathalbyn 4, Nairne 4, Bremer/Callington 0.