Hahndorf won their first game of the season after defeating Bremer/Callington by 67 runs during round three action in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) at Hahndorf on Saturday. The Magpies batted first and posted a competitive 7/223 from their 45 overs. Their score was set up by two key partnerships. The first was between skipper Dan Jenner (48) and Henry Baker (44) who added 100 for the first wicket. Then Henry Hassold (43) and Ben Montgomerie (30) combined in a 74-run stand for the fourth wicket, while Michael Shanahan chimed in with a useful 21 not out. Johnny Fitzgerald (3/31) and Luke Bush (2/35) were the leading wicket takers for the Cobras. Bremer/Callington didn’t have enough contributors to chase down the sizeable total with only Alfie Wenk (58) and Alex Durbidge (30) passing 20 as they finished at 9/156. Will Pearce (2/16), Lachie Huxtable (2/17) and Shanahan (2/40) were the multiple wicket takers for the Magpies. 

Reigning premier Lobethal continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 86-run home win against Strathalbyn. ‘Strath’ won the toss and sent Lobethal in and the move paid early dividends with the Tigers slipping to 3/26 in the eighth over. The home side desperately needed a partnership and they got a great one through Daniel Norsworthy and boom recruit Jeremy Hackett. This pair added 152 runs for the fourth wicket before Hackett was dismissed for 74 from 78 balls (8 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Norsworthy went on to top score with 80 from 114 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6). To underline the importance of their partnership, no other Tigers batsman reached double figures as ‘Lobey’ was bowled out in the 40th over for 219. Brayden Gaiter (4/40) and Lachlan Cutting (4/49) were the chief wicket takers for the Stallions. Strathalbyn were also in early trouble as they slumped to 3/36 before Mark Abbott, in his first game of the season, and Riley Tonkin came together to add 45 for the fourth wicket. Tonkin made 32 (39 balls), while Abbott top scored with 52 (84 balls). Unfortunately for the Stallions, only two other batsmen reached double figures as the visitors were rolled for 133 in the 37th over. Lobethal used an amazing 10 bowlers with Ben Matthews (3/16), Sam Graeber (2/1) and Matt Martin (2/26) the multiple wicket takers. 

Langhorne Creek are also undefeated after recording a five-wicket victory over Nairne on Saturday as the Razorbacks find themselves in the unusual position with no wins after three rounds. The Razorbacks won the toss and decided to bat first and struggled their way to a total of 140 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Chris Farrell with 44 from 55 balls (5 x 4’s) was the standout batsman for Nairne, while Will Brooks (18) and Caleb Walker (14 not out) added 32 valuable runs for the last wicket. Five Langhorne Creek bowlers took wickets including Ben Warren (2/12), Brodie O’Dea (2/22) and Trent Frahn (2/23). Nairne battled hard in the field, reducing Langhorne Creek to 5/97, and an upset win was a still a possibility. Skipper O’Dea (32 not out) and Troy Blackwell (26 not out) put paid to this with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand worth 44 runs to see their side across the line in the 32nd over. Opener Jaspa Tonkin scored a valuable 25 (37 balls), while Walker was the best of the Nairne bowlers with figures of 3/25 from nine overs. 

Macclesfield are the third undefeated side in the AEHCA competition following their five-wicket win against Woodside. The Warriors batted first with veteran Dave Wescombe the mainstay of the innings with a top score of 66. Brad Collins (28) and Trent Young (22) gave good support but unfortunately for Woodisde there were five ‘ducks’ in a total of 158. All six Macclesfield bowlers took wickets with Josh Lewis Burns (3/30), Kieran O’Connell (2/19) and Lachie Barrett (2/19) leading the way. The Redbacks got off to a good start in the run chase with Tom Filsell (30) and Connor Moore (22) adding 40 for the first wicket. Wickets then fell regularly and at 4/78, Woodside were back in the game. O’Connell was joined by Lewis-Burns and this pair put paid to any faint hopes the Warriors had of victory with an excellent 79-run stand for the fifth wicket before O’Connell departed for 33 (6 x 4’s). Lewis-Burns completed a fine all-round day with 39 not out (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the winning runs came up in the 32nd over. Shane Druwitt was the standout with the ball for Woodside with the fine figures of 4/19 (7.4). 

Ladder (after round 3)

Lobethal 12, Langhorne Creek 12, Macclesfield 12, Strathalbyn 8, Hahndorf 4, Woodside 0, Nairne 0, Bremer/Callington 0.

Round 4 fixtures (home teams named first)  

Lobethal v Bremer/Callington 

Hahndorf v Woodside

Nairne v Macclesfield

Langhorne Creek v Strathalbyn (11.00am Sunday)