It was a run-fest at Meadows yesterday as over 500 runs were scored in the Grand Final rematch between Mount Lofty and Meadows during round seven action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA). The Bulldogs showed they are still a major contender in 2021/22, despite their slow start to the season, as they chased down the reigning premiers big target with eight wickets and 19 balls to spare. Mount Lofty’s stand-in skipper Josh Healey won the toss and decided to bat first and he and his opening partner Jack Sandercock (21 off 11 balls) added 33 runs for the first wicket. Dylan Dunbar, in his first ‘A’ grade game this season, joined Healey in a second wicket stand worth 108 runs before Healey was dismissed for 61 off 76 balls (9 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Dunbar continued on to top score with 74 off 77 balls (9 x 4’s, 1 x 6) and he was ably supported by Stewart Leigh (37), Aaron Smith (32 not out) and Brad Hutton (21), as the Redcaps posted an impressive 5/255 from their 40 overs. It was tough going for the Meadows bowlers with veteran Chad Dawe the pick of them with 2/35 from seven overs. The home side needed a fast start and that’s exactly what they got as Haydn Reid and Luke Tonkin added 96 runs for the first wicket before Reid was dismissed for 39 (42 balls) in the 14th over. Tonkin was joined by Anthony Hughes as Meadows reached the halfway mark of the innings in a commanding position at 1/147. Tonkin was on fire as he raced towards a century before being dismissed for 97 from just 72 balls. Tonkin’s innings contained 11 boundaries and four sixes. Hughes was joined by skipper Rohan Reid with 94 runs still required for victory and 18 overs remaining. The experienced pair batted smartly, taking plenty of singles as the winning target was attained in the 37th over. Hughes finished with 53 not out (62 balls) while Reid was 55 not out (49 balls). It was a huge win for the Bulldogs as they now sit just one game outside the top-four, while Mount Lofty are still in good shape in second spot on the ladder. 

Stirling went to the top of the HCA ladder following their comfortable seven-wicket victory against Uraidla at Stirling Oval yesterday. Stirling won the toss and decided to send Uraidla in, and the visitors got off to a good start thanks to a 51-run opening stand between Alex Heptinstall and Peter Wilson before Heptinstall was dismissed for 25 (46 balls). Wilson went on to top score with 41 (89 balls), while Israel Symington made a quickfire 37 not out from 36 balls. Unfortunately for the Demons, no other batsman could manage double figures as they lost their last 7/39 to be bowled out for 119 in the 40th over. Five Stirling bowlers took wickets with Dan Parfitt (3/17), Jack Pick (2/18), Kosta Sinodinos (2/22) and Chris Shaw (2/26) the multiple wicket takers. The Eagles lost openers Myles Collins (1) and Daniel Gonzalez (19) to slip to 2/23 and give Uraidla some early hope of an upset victory. This hope was quickly extinguished with Pick and Sinodinos adding 71 runs for the third wicket before Pick was dismissed for 34 (77 balls). Harrison Webb (13 not out) and Sinodinos (49 not out) knocked off the winning runs in the 33rd over for Stirling’s fifth win of 2021/22. Simon Parker (1/17), Wilson (1/18) and Micah Brumby (1/33) were the wicket takers for Uraidla. 

Aldgate got themselves back on the winners list with a comprehensive six-wicket win at home against Kangarilla. The corresponding game last season saw 521 runs scored but yesterday was a completely different story after ‘Kangies’ were sent in and knocked over for just 68 off 36 overs. Ben Ryan (21) and Steve Featherstone (16) were the only batsmen to reach double figures in a disappointing effort from the visitors. Four Aldgate bowlers took wickets with Angas Wauchope (3/8) claiming his best ‘A’ grade figures, while Matty Hansen chipped in with 2/14 (8). Three run outs certainly didn’t help Kangarilla’s cause either. The ‘Gaters’ were in early trouble at 2/6 with Josh Callaghan (1) and Mitch Thomas (3) dismissed by Ben Evans (2/10). Luke Smet (20) and Connor Milde (16 not out) saw the home side to victory in the 26th over. Che Martinsen (2/16) was the other multiple wicket taker for Kangarilla. 

Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) won their second game of the season following a tight two-wicket win against Bridgewater at Cherry Gardens Oval. SCIB won the toss and put Bridgewater in to bat and the Raiders made an excellent start as skipper Justin Summerill and Charlie Birnie put on 106 for the first wicket before Summerill was dismissed for 56 from 94 balls. Birnie went on to make 54 (101 balls), while Chris Murray (22) and Dylan Wiles (18) helped lift Bridgewater to a competitive 7/178 from their 40 overs. Danny Coleman (3/13) and Daniel Key (3/38) were the multiple wicket takers for the home side. Scott Creek Ironbank’s run chase got off to a disastrous start with their top four batsmen all back in the shed with the score at 4/35 in the 11th over. Daniel Desengo (38) and Jarrod Thompson (28) started a ‘rescue act’ with a 68-run fifth wicket stand to get their side back in the contest. Thomas Miller (3/38) then dismissed both Desengo and Jarrod Thompson to leave SCIB in strife again at 6/114, still 65 runs short of victory with 10 overs to go. Enter Aaron Thompson at number eight, with a highest score this season of just nine, to be the hero for the home side. He combined with Tanner Claessen-Smith (14) in a 21-run stand before completely dominating a 36-run partnership with Coleman (3) which took SCIB within eight runs of the win. Thompson finished the game with 10 balls to spare on 48 not out from 36 balls (3 x 4’s, 1 x6). Rhys Jordan (2/35) and Murray (2/37) were the other multiple wicket takers for Bridgewater. 

Ladder (after round 7)

Stirling 33, Mount Lofty 30, Aldgate 30, Kangarilla 27, Meadows 21, Uraidla 12, Scott Creek Ironbank 12, Bridgewater 3.

Round 8 fixture (home team named first)

Aldgate v Scott Creek Ironbank

Uraidla v Meadows

Stirling v Bridgewater

Kangarilla v Mount Lofty