Meadows has roared to the top of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder following a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Aldgate at Meadows Oval on Saturday. Aldgate batted first and were always under pressure thanks to an excellent bowling performance from the Bulldogs. All five Meadows bowlers claimed wickets with skipper Rohan Reid (4/12), Kris Dawe (2/16) and Angus Frazer (2/20) the chief destroyers as the visitors were bowled out in the 40th over for 115. Aldgate skipper Jake Turnbull (36 off 57 balls) was the only batsman to pass 20 for the ‘Gaters’. Luke Tonkin and Haydn Reid got Meadows off to an excellent start as they added 67 runs for the first wicket before Tonkin was dismissed in the 18th over for 40 (56 balls). Haydn Reid continued on to make 45 not out with Rohan Reid (22 not out) bringing up the winning runs by taking 14 runs off the 30th over. Luke Smet (1/28) was the sole wicket taker for Aldgate. After losing three of their first five games this season, Meadows are undefeated since the 14th of November and they are looking in ominous form with just two games left before finals.

Flagstaff Hill moved a game clear in fourth spot on the HCA ladder with an important five-wicket victory over Kangarilla at Flagstaff Hill. It was a big day for the Falcons as they celebrated their 40th anniversary in style. Kangarilla batted first and were bowled out for 118 in the 37th over. Steve Featherstone (31) and Cam Venter (30) were the only ‘Kangies’ batsmen to pass 20 runs in the innings. Ryan Grimmond added a valuable 15 not out from 16 balls at the end of the innings. Jack Walton continued his excellent season to take 3/26 (7.2). Walton now has 18 wickets at an average of 14.28 this season. Jess Lemon (2/8) was the other multiple wicket taker for the Falcons. Flagstaff Hill started well in the run chase to reach 1/58 before Matt Emes was run out for 28 as the Falcons lost 3/0 to see Kangarilla all of a sudden back in the game. When Josh Dunlevey was dismissed for 16, Flagstaff Hill were 5/82 and it was 'game on'. Stephen Wheatland joined his skipper Jacob Lemon (11 not out) to add an unbeaten 39 runs from just 47 balls for the sixth wicket. Wheatland hit the winning runs in the 38th over as he finished on 31 not out from 39 balls. Four Kangarilla bowlers took wickets with skipper Che Martinsen (1/13 from eight overs) the pick of them. 

Mount Lofty consolidated third spot on the ladder with a comfortable 62-run win at Heathfield Oval against Uraidla. The Redcaps batted first and it was hard going for the batsmen as the home side reached 2/46 at the drinks break. James Kittel-Neill (18), Jordan Neis-Beer (16) and Brad Hutton (16) all made handy contributions but when Jack Sandercock (0) was dismissed in the 29th over and the score at 5/77, Uraidla were well on top. Enter Adam Carthew to join Aaron Smith in an innings-defining sixth wicket stand worth 52 runs before Smith was dismissed for a run-a-ball 34. Carthew continued on to top score with 36 not out (40 balls) as the Redcaps posted 6/146 from their 40 overs. Carthew is having another good season with 234 runs at 39.00 and 11 wickets at 17.45. Thomas Bassett (2/18) and Trent Richardson (2/26) were the multiple wicket takers for the Demons. Uraidla’s run chase started disastrously as they slipped to 3/10 before teenager Mason Pitt tried to lift them out of trouble as he made a patient 22 from 61 balls to top score for this side. Unfortunately number 10 batsman Richardson (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as the visitors were bowled out for just 84 in the 39th over. Five Mount Lofty bowlers took wickets in an excellent bowling performance with Max Hawke (3/19), Kittel-Neill (2/9) and Smith (2/17) leading the way. Carthew (1/8 off eight overs) bowled a typical miserly spell as well. 

Stirling notched their fourth win of 2020/21 with a six-wicket victory at Stirling Oval against bottom side Scott Creek Ironbank. The visitors were sent in and were soon in strife at 4/17 with Kosta Sinodinos (3/10) doing the early damage. It was left to veterans Daniel Desengo (36) and Andy Adams (28 not out) to try and lift Scott Creek Ironbank to a decent score as they added 60 runs for the sixth wicket as the visitors ended on 6/99 from their 40 overs. Jack Pick (1/3), Myles Collins (1/21) and Chris Shaw (1/22) were the other wicket takers for Stirling while Jack Read was very economical with 0/7 (8). The Eagles were relatively untroubled in knocking off the target with opening batsman Collins (47 not out) and Read the standout batsmen. Read made a quickfire 30 (16 balls) which included two boundaries and three ‘maximums’ as the target was knocked off in the 20th over with a six from Collins.

Ladder (after round 14)

Meadows 51, Aldgate 48, Mount Lofty 45, Flagstaff Hill 42, Kangarilla 36, Stirling 30, Uraidla 27, Scott Creek Ironbank 9.

Round 15 fixtures (20/2/21) (home team named first)

Meadows v Scott Creek Ironbank

Flagstaff Hill v Aldgate

Stirling v Mt Lofty

Uraidla v Kangarilla