Meadows have made their way through to an incredible 16th Hills Cricket Association (HCA) Grand Final in the past 19 seasons following a 38-run win against reigning premier Mount Lofty at Meadows Oval yesterday. Meadows skipper Rohan Reid won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first as the ‘old firm’ of Haydn Reid and Luke Tonkin came out to open the batting. This pair did a great job for the Bulldogs as they reached 0/89 (20) at the drinks break. Tonkin (43) was eventually dismissed in the 23rd over with the score at 103. Haydn Reid continued on to top score with 61 (80 balls), while Oscar Tydeman made a handy 20 not out (27 balls), with the Bulldogs finishing with 7/185 from their 40 overs. Adam Carthew (3/35) was the standout bowler for Mount Lofty. Meadows got off to a good start in the field with the dangerous Jack Sandercock removed for a first-ball duck before Josh Healey and Carthew steadied the innings with an important 78-run stand for the second wicket before Healey went for 49 (58 balls). He was followed not long after by Carthew who was dismissed for 44 (63 balls), with both wickets falling to Brad Louch (2/38). From then on, Meadows got right on top as the Redcaps lost their last 8/48 to be bowled out in the 39th over for 147. Veteran Chad Dawe continued his excellent season with 3/9 (4.1), while Rohan Reid (2/24) and Anthony Hughes (2/30) chimed in with a couple of wickets each. 

Stirling are through to next Saturday’s Preliminary Final following their hard fought 18-run win over Aldgate at Aldgate Oval. Stirling are chasing their first ‘A’ grade premiership since the 1993/94 season and will take on reigning premier Mount Lofty on Saturday for the right to challenge Meadows for the flag. Stirling skipper Jack Pick won the toss and decided to bat first with Jack Read (36) and Daniel Gonzalez (36) adding 71 for the first wicket. Pick (29), Harrison Webb (27) and Myles Collins (23) all made handy contributions as the Eagles posted 8/182 from their 40 overs. Five Aldgate bowlers took wickets with Matt Lennon capturing 4/26 (6). The ‘Gaters’ got off to a fast start as Mitch Thomas and Josh Callaghan raced to 0/29 off the first three overs. Stirling opening bowler Chris Shaw (4/32), who went for 12 runs off his first over, hit back hard with three quick wickets, removing Thomas (24), Callaghan (2) and Will Quigley-Smith (5) to leave Aldgate in strife at 3/35. Luke Smet (4) was next to go as Aldgate were deep in the mire at 4/43. Frank Clements was joined by Angas Wauchope and this pair resurrected the innings with a 55-run fifth wicket stand before Wauchope was dismissed by Charlie Fryer (3/32) for 14. Fryer then took the huge wicket of Aldgate skipper Jake Turnbull (7) followed by the prized wicket of Clements, which turned the game back in Stirling’s favour. Clements top scored with 60 (80 balls). Wickets continued to fall as Aldgate were bowled out for 164 in the 38th over. Daniel Parfitt (2/32) was the other multiple wicket taker for the Eagles.

Preliminary Final (Saturday 19 March @ 1.00pm)

Mount Lofty v Stirling (Heathfield)