Kangarilla are back in the finals hunt in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) following a thrilling two-run win at Uraidla against the Demons on Saturday. The game came down to the last over with Kangarilla’s Steve Featherstone (3/34) bowling and Uraidla needing 13 runs to win. When Shane Parker (32) hit the second ball of the over for six, the equation was six runs required from four balls. Featherstone held his nerve to dismiss Parker as Uraidla finished on 7/163 in pursuit of Kangarilla’s total of 165 all out. Alex Heptinstall (48), Renzo Gaetan (25) and Michael Parker (21) all contributed for the home side. Kangarilla skipper Che Martinsen was the star for ‘Kangies’ with the ball as he snared the miserly figures of 3/9 (8). Earlier, Kangarilla batted first and got off to a flying start with Cole Davy making 57 from just 31 balls (5 x 4’s, 5 x 6’s) as he and Featherstone (21) put on 74 for the first wicket. Uraidla fought back to eventually bowl the visitors out in the 37th over with Shane Parker (3/11) and Trent Richardson (3/21) the chief destroyers. Kangarilla will host Flagstaff Hill in a virtual elimination final with the teams separated by just .02% on the ladder, while Uraidla will finish off their season by hosting finals-bound Mount Lofty.

Mount Lofty kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive with a tight two-wicket victory over Stirling at Stirling Oval. Stirling batted first and got away to a solid start with Myles Collins (36) and Jacob Kemp adding 48 runs for the first wicket before Kemp was dismissed for 11 (52 balls). Jacob Gonzalez (6) was elevated to number three in the batting order but this move didn’t work out as the Eagles slumped to 8/109. Skipper Jack Pick (26 from 37 balls) was the only other top order batsman to reach double figures. In just his fifth game for the season, Ben Zampa smashed 36 not out from just 19 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) as he and Ned Hopgood (9 not out) put on a very useful ninth wicket partnership of 47 to lift the home side to 8/156 from their 40 overs. Five Redcaps bowlers took wickets with Will Healey (3/25) and Max Hawke (2/25) leading the way. After losing Josh Healey (8) early, James Kittel-Neill and Jordan Neis-Beer combined for an excellent 96-run second wicket stand to see Mount Lofty in a commanding position at 1/106 in the 28th over before Neis-Beer was dismissed for 37 (82 balls). Kittel-Neill was gone in the next over for 56 (85 balls) and it was a different game all of a sudden. The collapse had begun with the Redcaps losing 7/19 to slump to 8/125. Kosta Sinodinos dismissed Dylan Dunbar (0) and Adam Carthew (0) with the last two balls of his seventh over and then clean bowled the dangerous Jack Sandercock (4) with the first ball of his eighth over to achieve the magical hat trick! The next ball was a wide before Sinodinos dismissed Will Healey to have four wickets in a row from four legal deliveries. Sinodinos finished with the spectacular figures of 6/14 (8). Watching the carnage unfold was Aaron Smith and he was joined by Hawke with the Redcaps needing 32 runs from 40 balls for what now would be an unlikely victory. This game had already had plenty of drama and there was more to come! When the 38th over was completed, Mount Lofty required 13 runs to win from 12 balls. A 12-run penalty (six runs per over not bowled in the allocated time) was issued against Stirling for only having completed 38 overs in the 150 minutes allowed. Therefore the match was essentially tied with 12 balls remaining! Hawke played out a maiden from Jacob Gonzalez before Smith (31 not out) hit a boundary from the second ball of the 40th over to bring up the victory. Mount Lofty can still grab the double chance with victory over Uraidla in the final round while Stirling will finish their season with a trip to face Scott Creek Ironbank.

Meadows tuned up for their top-of-the-ladder clash with Aldgate this Saturday with a convincing 10-wicket victory over Scott Creek Ironbank at Meadows. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for just 95 in the 33rd over. Ben McGowan (21 not out) and Zane Lewis (20) were the leading lights with the bat Scott Creek Ironbank. Meadows shared the wickets around with Kris Dawe (3/24) the chief destroyer. Dawe, in his first season with the Bulldogs since 2014/15, has now snared 26 wickets at the incredible average of just 6.96 in 2020/21. He was ably supported by Tom Bevan-Giles (2/11), Chad Dawe (2/22) and Angus Frazer (2/31). Meadows were keen for an ‘early minute’ as they chased the target down in just the 14th over. Luke Tonkin was particularly devastating as he smashed an unbeaten 77 from only 59 balls. Tonkin’s innings included six boundaries and four ‘maximums’. Haydn Reid had the best seat in the house as he cruised to 18 not out from 24 balls (2 x 4’s). As mentioned earlier, Meadows will head to Aldgate for a huge clash which will decide the minor premiership. Scott Creek Ironbank will round out their first season back in ‘A’ grade ranks by hosting Stirling.

Aldgate won their first game in three weeks to keep their minor premiership hopes afloat with a convincing 77-run win at Flagstaff Hill. Aldgate batted first with their innings set up by two good partnerships. Josh Callaghan (32) and Liam Winskill (49) added 65 for the second wicket before Frank Clements joined forces with Winskill to put on 55 for the third wicket with Clements going on to make 55 not out from 52 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). The ‘Gaters’ finished on 4/190 from their 40 overs. Jack Walton (3/42) was the leading wicket taker for the Falcons. Flagstaff Hill were in trouble early as they slipped to 2/11 before a 42-run partnership between Oliver Styles (25) and Lachlan Tosh (22) gave the home side some hope. This was quickly snuffed out with Aldgate skipper Jake Turnbull (3/23) taking two wickets in the 19th over as ‘Flaggies’ limped to drinks at 4/55. It was all Aldgate after the break as the home side were bowled out for 113 off 40 overs. The wickets were shared around with Clements (2/20), Perry Edwards (2/22) and Jack Woollard (2/23) joining Turnbull as multiple wicket takers. Aldgate will host ladder-leader Meadows in the last minor round game with the winner to secure the minor premiership, while Flagstaff Hill play Kangarilla with the winner taking the last spot in the finals.

Footnote: I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my best wishes to Aldgate cricketer Jake Bilsborow and his family, after Jake had a severe accident last week (17 February). I have known Jake since he was in Kindergarten with my son and have coached and played with Jake at the Aldgate Cricket Club. He is a terrific sportsman and a fantastic young man. On behalf of the Fleurieu App and myself…we wish you a speedy recovery legend. 

Ladder (after round 15)

Meadows 57, Aldgate 54, Mount Lofty 51, Flagstaff Hill 42, Kangarilla 42, Stirling 30, Uraidla 27, Scott Creek Ironbank 9.

Round 16 fixtures (27/2/21) (home team named first)

Kangarilla v Flagstaff Hill

Aldgate v Meadows

Uraidla v Mount Lofty

Scott Creek Ironbank v Stirling