Meadows have qualified for an incredible 12th Grand Final in 13 seasons following a comfortable 59-run win over Mount Lofty in their Hills Cricket Association (HCA) semi-final on Saturday at Meadows. The home side won the toss and batted first with Luke Tonkin and Haydn Reid (23) putting on 37 for the first wicket. Tonkin was joined by skipper Rohan Reid and this pair put on 61 runs for the second wicket before Tonkin went for 52 (64 balls). The experienced Kris Dawe was the next man in for Meadows and his partnership with Rohan Reid set the game up for the reigning premier. Their partnership was worth 105 runs with Reid making his fourth half century of the season with 68 from 73 balls (8 x 4’s, 1 x6) while Dawe finished with 55 from 64 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Meadows finished their 40 overs with a very competitive total of 5/213. James Kittel-Neill (3/56), Brett Pistola (1/32) and Will Healey (1/34) were the wicket takers for Mount Lofty. The Redcaps made a good start in their run chase as Josh Healey (26) and Kittel-Neill (35) put on 48 runs for the first wicket before Healey was dismissed by Chad Dawe. Kittel-Neill was next to go as Mount Lofty reached drinks at 2/73 off 20 overs. Skipper Jordan Neis-Beer (21) was battling hard for the Redcaps but wickets were falling at regular intervals as the required run rate went above 10 runs per over. Stewart Leigh, in his first ‘A’ grade game, made a quickfire 35 from 26 balls but eventually Mount Lofty were bowled out in the 38th over for 154. HCA leading wicket taker, Kris Dawe, again bowled an excellent spell to finish with 4/22 (8) and he was well supported by Tom Bevan-Giles (2/36), Chad Dawe (2/38) and Gus Frazer (2/43) while Rohan Reid bowled a miserly spell of 0/14 from his eight overs. Meadows will have a week off as they prepare to host the decider on Saturday March 20, while Mount Lofty will need to re-group as they tackle Kangarilla in the Preliminary Final at Heathfield on Saturday. 

Kangarilla won their first ever final in HCA ‘A’ grade ranks with a four-wicket victory over Aldgate at Balhannah Oval. Kangarilla had to win their last two minor round games just to reach the top four and have now earned themselves a berth in the Preliminary Final against Mount Lofty. Aldgate batted first and their innings never really got going with Mitch Thomas (19) and Liam Winskill (11) the only batsmen in the top five to reach double figures as the ‘Gaters’ slipped to 6/50. Jack Woollard tried to give the innings some impetus as he made 37 from 50 balls (2 x 4’s, 1 x 6), but ultimately Aldgate were bowled out for 105 in the 40th over. Jack Evans (2/11), Ryan Grimmond (2/18) and Ben Evans (2/22) were the multiple wicket takers for ‘Kangies’ and there were three run outs. Kangarilla got off to a fast start with Cole Davy and Jono Makai (12) putting on 30 runs before Makai was dismissed by Brian Stephens (1/33) in the fourth over. Davy was joined by Steve Featherstone in a 37-run stand before Davy (42 from 38 balls) was dismissed in the 16th over by Perry Edwards (1/13) with the score at 2/67. Featherstone went on to make a patient 22 (81 balls) with Lachlan Knight (10 not out) hitting the winning runs in the 32nd over from the bowling of Matt Hansen (2/15).

‘A1’ Grade Preliminary Final (13/3/21)

Mount Lofty v Kangarilla (Heathfield Oval)

‘A2’ Grade Grand Final (13/3/21)

Bridgewater v Aldgate (Bridgewater Oval)

‘A3’ Grade Grand Final (13/3/21)

Aldgate v Scott Creek Ironbank (Aldgate Oval)

*All games are 40-overs per side and start at 1.00pm