Langhorne Creek consolidated second spot on the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ladder after defeating arch-rival Strathalbyn by nine runs in a tight encounter at Strathalbyn. Langhorne Creek batted first and lost opening batsman Daniel Kropp first ball before Jaspa Tonkin (35) and Wessel van Wyk (12) put on 42 runs for the second wicket. Brayden Frost (33) and Tonkin took the score up to 2/86 until a collapse of 6/18 saw the visitors in strife at 8/104. Bradley Clements joined Troy Blackwell at the crease to add a vital 61 runs for the ninth wicket before Blackwell was dismissed for 41 (39 balls). Clements made 26 (47 balls) as the Tigers were bowled out for 174 in the 41st over. Matt Harris (3/22), Lachlan Cutting (2/15), Nick Evenden (2/28) and Brayden Gaiter (2/55) were the multiple wicket takers for the Stallions. Strathalbyn got themselves into a good position in the run chase as they reached 1/95 with Luke Cousins and Mark Abbott (28) adding 76 for the second wicket. Cousins would go on to top score with 62 (80 balls), but steady wickets continued to fall as ‘Strath’ appeared out of the contest at 8/128. Kane Gaiter (22) and Evenden (16 not out) tried their best to lift their side to victory but ultimately the Stallions were bowled out for 165 with one over left in the game. Kropp’s day didn’t start well, but he made up for it with the ball taking the final wicket on his way to figures of 5/41 (9). Blackwell completed a fine all-round game with 3/23 (8). 

Nairne moved a game clear in fourth position after defeating fellow finals aspirant Macclesfield by 86 runs on Saturday. Nairne batted first with their innings set up by a 112-run stand between Robert Crook (47) and Luke Timmins (46) for the third wicket. Duncan Rogers (32 not out), Chad Harrop (24 not out) and Shane Kenney (24) made handy contributions as Nairne finished their 45 overs on 6/238. Connor Moore (3/37) was the best of the Redback bowlers. Josh Lewis-Burns (37) and David Schulze (34) added 61 runs for the third wicket, but ultimately Macclesfield were bowled out for 152 in the 36th over. Five Nairne bowlers took wickets with Nick Williams (3/32), Will Brooks (2/19) and Caleb Walker (2/23) leading the way. 

Woodside won their third game of the season with a tight two-wicket victory at Hahndorf. The Magpies batted first and struggled their way to a total of 127 before being bowled out in the 37th over. Ben Montgomerie, with 54 not out from 71 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s), was the standout batsman for Hahndorf, while Henry Hassold (19), Lachlan Huxtable (19) and Michael Shanahan (16 not out) chipped in. Nick Johns was the best of the Woodside bowlers with figures of 5/28 from nine overs, while Harrison Reid snared 2/21 (7). Woodside were cruising in the run chase at 1/60 with Tommy Baldock (39) and Brad Collins (18) adding 59 for the second wicket. Enter Hahndorf veteran Mark Trafford-Walker who put the Warriors on the back foot with an inspired spell of 4/12 off nine overs as the visitors slumped to 8/103. Shane Druwitt (14 not out) and Johns (14 not out) held their nerve to get their side over the line with 47 balls to spare. Huxtable (2/35) was the other multiple wicket taker for Hahndorf. 

Reigning premier Lobethal will go to the break on top of the ladder after a comfortable 92-run victory over Bremer Callington. The Tigers batted first and posted 9/220 from their 45 overs. Dave Huxter (58), Ben Matthews (40), Lachlan Elsworthy (33) and Matt Martin (21) were the leading run scorers for ‘Lobey’. Graydon Brand was the standout bowler for the Cobras with the excellent figures of 5/25 (9), while Alex Durbidge snared 2/37 (9). The Cobras got themselves to 2/72 through Brand (20), Durbidge (21) and Michael Heath (44), but they lost their last 8/56 to be bowled out for 128. Lobethal used 10 bowlers with Daniel Norsworthy the leading wicket taker with 4/26 from eight overs. 

Ladder (after round 11)

Lobethal 38, Langhorne Creek 36, Strathalbyn 26, Nairne 26, Macclesfield 22, Woodside 16, Hahndorf 6, Bremer Callington 6.

Round 12 fixtures (home teams named first - 13/1/24)  

Langhorne Creek v Lobethal

Nairne v Hahndorf

Strathalbyn v Macclesfield

Woodside v Bremer Callington