McLaren Districts has pulled off one of the upsets of the season with a stirring 25-run win at home over Encounter Bay in round eight action of the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA). McLaren Districts entered the clash with just two wins for the season, against the bottom two sides in Myponga and Mount Compass, while on the flipside, Encounter Bay had only dropped two games for 2019/20 and were firmly ensconced in the top four. The home side won the toss and decided to bat first with Antony Natale (41), Dylan Howie (38) and Daniel Bruce (31) putting the Crushers in a strong position at 2/100. A collapse of 9/21 saw the home side limp to the end of their 40 overs at 9/132. Skipper Cam Lintern bowled a superb spell for the visitors taking 3/9 from his eight overs. Dillon Burns (2/27) and Sam Hoffmann (2/34) were the other multiple wicket takers. Encounter Bay got off to a solid start with an opening partnership of 25 but only Dennis Rice (20) could reach 20 as no fewer than five batsmen were dismissed in their ‘teens’. The visitors were eventually bowled out for just 107 in the 34th over. Four of the five bowlers used by McLaren Districts claimed wickets with Cameron Hockey (3/9), Ryan McCurrach (3/28), Bodie Wilson (2/21) and David Smith (2/22) leading the way.

Reigning premier Noarlunga moved up to second position on the GSCA ladder with a comprehensive 122-run win over Mount Compass at Old Noarlunga. Skipper Jason Scarff won the toss for the Shoes and had no hesitation in batting first. It was all Noarlunga from the start as Scarff and Anthony Burgess combined for a whopping 183-run opening stand. Scarff (70) made his third half century of the season while Burgess continued on to register his second century of the season before being dismissed for 120. Burgess is the leading batsman in the GSCA this season with 395 runs at an average of 79.00. Noarlunga finished up with an excellent score of 5/223. Josh Dalitz toiled hard for Mount Compass to take 4/36 from his eight overs. In reply, Mount Compass were never in the hunt as they were bowled out for 101 in the 30th over. Bryce Garrard was a shining light for the Bulls as he made a fine 51, his highest score of the season. Jamie Keers was the star for Noarlunga taking career best figures of 6/19 from seven overs. It was Keers’ first game since March 2018.

In the match of the round, competition leader Willunga ground out a tough 52-run away victory over Goolwa to keep top spot as Goolwa slipped down to third. Willunga batted first and were in early trouble at 4/39. The Demons desperately needed a partnership and they got one through Simon Roberts (35) and Jake Austin (13) which was worth 40 runs for the fifth wicket before another collapse of 3/3 saw Willunga sit at a precarious 7/82.  Enter Corey McIvor who whacked 35 not out from just 24 balls and along with support from Dane McPhail (12), saw the Demons to a competitive total of 9/139 at the end of their 40 overs. James Lawrence (2/19), Shaun Burger (2/26) and Jake Ashton-Place (2/27) were the pick of the Magpies bowlers. The target of 139 was always going to be difficult for Goolwa against a strong Willunga attack and so it proved as the Magpies could only manage a meagre total of 87 before being bowled out in the 36th over. Burger (22), Josh Jones (19) and Fred Nissen (10) were the only batsmen to make double figures. Five Willunga bowlers took wickets with amazingly only Simon Roberts (0/21) not getting in on the act. Roberts is actually the leading wicket taker in GSCA ranks with 25 wickets at an average of just 7.36. On Saturday however the bowling spoils went to Tye McIvor (3/22), Luke Harding (2/2) and Luke Goldner (2/16).

Port Elliot has won their third consecutive game after a comfortable eight-wicket win over Myponga at Myponga Oval. The win keeps the Bloods’ finals hopes well and truly alive as they sit in fifth position with four rounds to go. The home side batted first and struggled their way to the 40th over before being bowled out for just 78 with only Drew Boulden (28), in his first game of the season, reaching double figures. Port Elliot’s bowlers shared the spoils with Simon Donaldson (2/5), Ben Martin (2/17) and Jesse Consalvo (2/19) the multiple wicket takers. The Bloods wasted no time chasing down the small target as the winning runs were hit in the 18th over. Consalvo was the star with the bat as he notched his second half century of the season, finishing on 59 not out.

Round 9 (11/1/20 & 18/11/20) fixtures (home team named first)

Goolwa v Noarlunga

McLaren Districts v Myponga

Willunga v Encounter Bay

Mount Compass v Port Elliot