Goolwa won their fourth game in a row after defeating Mt Compass by nine wickets during round seven action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Burgess Oval on Saturday. Mt Compass batted first and had five batsmen reach 20, but no one went on to make a big score as the Bulldogs were bowled out for 135. Paul Barrett top scored with 28 (65 balls). Dean Vickery (2/20), James Lawrence (2/26) and Josh Jones (2/30) were the multiple wicket takers for the Magpies. Sam Carlyle (13) and Matt Overall added 57 runs for the first wicket before Sam Cuconits (45 not out) joined Overall to see Goolwa over the line in the 20th over. Overall finished with 78 not out from 60 balls (13 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s), while Riley Tonkin (1/5) was the sole wicket taker for Mt Compass. 

Yankalilla consolidated their spot in the top-six with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Victor Harbor. The Vipers batted first and struggled their way to a total of 68 before being bowled out in the 32nd over. Josh Boyko (15) was the only batsman to reach double figures. Six Yankalilla bowlers took wickets with Luke Bartlett the standout performer with the excellent figures of 5/13 from 6.5 overs. The Tigers, through Lachlan Whittlesea (32) and Aaron Smith (36 not out), knocked off the winning runs in just the 11th over. Boyko (1/9) was the only wicket taker for Victor Harbor. 

Encounter Bay won their second game in a row with a convincing 99-run win over McLaren Districts. The Bays batted first with their innings dominated by English recruit Matthew Smalley-Harris who batted throughout the innings. Smalley-Harris finished with 111 not out from 129 balls (8 x 4’s) as Encounter Bay posted 6/196 from their 40 overs. Left-armer Chris Beaty took 3/14 (8), while club coach Justin Ifould snared 2/30 (8) for the Crushers. McLaren Districts were never in the run chase as they were bowled out for 97 in the 31st over. Roy Graham top scored with 19 not out (23 balls). Six Bays bowlers took wickets with Kieran Garrett (3/24) and Chris Butler (2/9) leading the way. 

Noarlunga, playing their first game in eight weeks, had a strong 176-run victory over Wilunga at Old Noarlunga. The Shoes batted first with Cam Bullard (33) and Travis Bronstein putting on 70 for the first wicket from just eight overs. Bronstein continued on as he and Connor Lock (52 not out) put on 103 for the third wicket, before Bronstein was dismissed for 112 from 95 balls (18 x 4’s, 1 x 6). It was Bronstein’s first ‘A’ grade century. Jing Li (2/33), Dan Hockham (2/38) and Brayden Pansini (2/56) were the multiple wicket takers for the Demons. Willunga struggled in the run chase with Seth Willson (29) the only player to reach 20. Six Noarlunga bowlers took wickets with Bronstein (2/5) and Ben Stewart-Tonkin (2/10) leading the way. 

Port Elliot had the bye.

Ladder (after round 7)

Port Elliot 31, Goolwa 30, Encounter Bay 28, Noarlunga 27, Yankalilla 25, Mt Compass 21, McLaren Districts 12, Willunga 6, Victor Harbor 0.

Round 8 (17/1/26 - 1 day games)

Encounter Bay v Mt Compass 

Victor Harbor v Goolwa

Yankalilla v Noarlunga

Willunga v Port Elliot

McLaren Districts has the bye