Meadows wrapped up their sixth consecutive minor premiership in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) following a four-wicket victory against Aldgate at Aldgate Oval on Saturday. The home side batted first and got off to a good start through Josh Callaghan and Mitch Thomas who added 58 runs for the first wicket before Thomas was dismissed for 31 (58 balls). Callaghan went on to make 42 (77 balls) as Aldgate started to build their innings but at 4/110, Meadows were a chance to keep the ‘Gaters’ under 160 on the small confines of ‘The Swamp’. Jack Woollard (27 from 21 balls) and Frank Clements came together to add a whirlwind 72-run fifth wicket stand as the home side reached 5/190 from their 40 overs. Clements was the star of the innings with a hard-hitting 73 not out from just 45 balls. His innings contained three boundaries and eight sixes. Meadows skipper Rohan Reid (3/48) was the only multiple wicket taker for the Bulldogs. Meadows got off to a quick start with Luke Tonkin (24) and Kris Dawe (20) scoring at better than a run a ball but at 3/61 in the 10th over, the game was in the balance as Max Buckley joined Rohan Reid at the crease. Buckley proceeded to take the game away from Aldgate with a powerful display of hitting as he brought up his second half century of the season off just 24 balls on his way to 65 from 49 balls (2 x 4’s, 9 x 6’s). Teenager Oscar Tydeman (30 from 33 balls) then put on 44 for the sixth wicket as Rohan Reid (41 not out) brought up the winning runs with a ‘maximum’ in the 34th over. Matty Hansen (2/45) was the sole multiple wicket taker for Aldgate in what was a tough day for the bowlers. Meadows will now face Mount Lofty in the ‘double chance’ semi final while Aldgate slipped to third place and will take on Kangarilla in the ‘knockout’ semi final. 

Kangarilla will play finals for the first time since joining the HCA back in the 2014/15 season after a comprehensive six-wicket win over Flagstaff Hill at Kangarilla. The game was virtually an elimination final with the winner to take the last available spot in the top four while the losers season would be over. The Falcons started the day well as they won the toss and chose to bat first but this was about as good as it got for the visitors as they were rolled for just 80 in the 39th over. Max Renfrey (29), Jess Lemon (13) and Jack Walton (12 not out) were the only batsmen to reach double figures. Jack Evans (3/18), Ben Evans (3/19) and Ryan Grimmond (2/17) took the bowling honours for ‘Kangies’. Cole Davy (46 from 51 balls) continued his good recent form as Kangarilla were relatively untroubled in knocking off the target in the 21st over for the loss of four wickets. Davy has scored 235 runs at an average of 47.00 in the past five matches. Former Kangarilla player, Lenny Berkefeld, took 2/16 for the visitors. Kangarilla will face off in a cut-throat semi final against Aldgate at Balhannah Oval with the winner to advance to the preliminary final on March 13 while for the loser, it will be season over. 

Mount Lofty grabbed the all-important double chance after a crushing nine-wicket win over Uraidla at Uraidla Oval. The home side started well with Thomas Bassett (19) and Alex Heptinstall (15) adding 37 for the first wicket. From then on it was all Mount Lofty as they took 10/35 to bowl out the home side for just 72 in the 37th over. All five Redcaps bowlers took wickets with Aaron Smith (3/13) and Adam Carthew (2/2) the standouts. Mount Lofty were keen for an ‘early minute’ as they knocked off the small target in just 8.2 overs. Josh Healey (29 not out), Jack Sandercock (20) and Jordan Neis-Beer (19 not out) all got in on the act with the bat for Mount Lofty. Bassett (1/20) was the wicket taker for Uraidla. Mount Lofty will enter their semi final clash at Meadows with confidence after four consecutive wins plus a dramatic victory in the T20 final against the Bulldogs.

Stirling rounded out their season with a fifth victory of 2020/21 following a 67-run at Cherry Gardens against Scott Creek Ironbank. Stirling batted first and got solid contributions from Jacob Kemp (24), Jack Pick (20) and Myles Collins (13) but at 3/67, a good partnership was needed. Pete Fryer (43) joined Kosta Sinodinos (49) in an innings-defining partnership worth 87 runs as the visitors finished with 7/206 from their 40 overs. Veteran Andy Adams took 3/63 (8) while Beau Thomas bowled economically to snare 1/12 (6). Scott Creek Ironbank were in early strife at 4/44 before Thomas Watton and Mark Kipping added 40 runs for the fifth wicket. This was easily the best partnership of the innings as the home side lost their last 6/55 to be bowled out for 139 in the 34th over. Watton went on to top score with 46 from 46 balls with seven boundaries. Jack Read (5/29 off 8) claimed his first five-wicket haul in ‘A’ grade ranks and he was ably supported by Sinodinos (3/29). Sinodinos had an excellent season with the ball for the Eagles with 24 wickets at an average of 11.38.

Ladder (after round 16)

Meadows 63, Mount Lofty 57, Aldgate 54, Kangarilla 48, Flagstaff Hill 42, Stirling 36, Uraidla 27, Scott Creek Ironbank 9.

Semi-Finals (6/3/21)

Meadows v Mount Lofty (Meadows)

Aldgate v Kangarilla (Balhannah)