Langhorne Creek moved up to second spot on the ladder after a convincing eight-wicket victory over Macclesfield during round 16 action in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) at Langhorne Creek on Saturday. Macclesfield batted first and were bowled out for just 82 in the 26th over with Harrison Farrelly top scoring with 15 (33 balls). Jagga Kotz (3/13), Brayden Frost (3/23) and Adam Clements (2/9) were the leading wicket takers for Langhorne Creek. The Tigers wasted no time in knocking off the target as Brodie O’Dea made a quickfire 50 from 26 balls (6 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s), with the winning runs coming up in just eight overs. Luke Jones (1/26) and Joseph Lions (1/29) were the wicket takers for the Redbacks.

A Shane Kenney century has fired Nairne to a six-wicket win against Hahndorf in hot and windy conditions at Nairne Oval on Saturday. Kenney smashed 101 from just 47 balls as the Razorbacks chased down the Magpies’ total of 8/225 in just the 31st over. Kenney’s innings included seven fours and a whopping 10 sixes and was his second ‘ton’ for the season. He was well supported by skipper Luke Timmins (47 not out) and Zac Llewellyn (36). Paul Allegretto (2/40) was the leading wicket taker for Hahndorf. Earlier, after slipping to 8/105, Ben Salt (77 not out) and Curtis Montgomery (61 not out) put on an unbroken ninth-wicket stand worth 120 runs to give Hahndorf what looked like a good total to defend. Chad Harrop was the star with the ball for Nairne with 4/21 from his eight overs. 

Lobethal moved another step closer to the minor premiership with a three-wicket win at Woodside. The home side batted first with Noah Bell (55), Chris Baschiera (29) and Trent Young (29) lifting their side to a competitive total of 193 before being bowled out in the 44th over. Lobethal used nine bowlers with Mitch Weeks (3/26), Matt Martin (3/27) and Sam Graeber (2/27) leading the way. Weeks got the Tigers off to a fast start in the run chase with 43 from 20 balls (3 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s), but at 3/62, the game was evenly poised. Jeremy Hackett joined Sam Graeber at the crease in a pivotal 92-run stand for the fourth wicket before Graeber went for 37 (61 balls). Hackett continued on to top score with 52 from 57 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the winning runs came up in the 37th over. Jeremy Druwitt bowled an excellent spell for the Warriors to snare 5/35 from his nine overs. 

The game between Bremer Callington and Strathalbyn at Callington was abandoned after a ‘mutual agreement’ due to the heat.

Ladder (after round 16)

Lobethal 52, Langhorne Creek 48, Hahndorf 44, Woodside 40, Nairne 32, Strathalbyn 22, Bremer Callington 14, Macclesfield 4.

Round 17 fixtures (1/3/25)  

Langhorne Creek v Nairne

Lobethal v Strathalbyn

Woodside v Bremer Callington

Macclesfield v Hahndorf