Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) have cruised into the Meyer Shield final with a thumping 197-run win over Kangaroo Island at Meadows on Sunday. AEHCA batted first with Greg Hassold and Mitch Weeks adding 84 for the first wicket before Hassold was dismissed for 51 from 50 balls (6 x 4’s). Day one hero Ben Matthews (2) and the dangerous Ben Warren (13) were dismissed cheaply as Kangaroo Island fought back to see AEHCA at 3/116 in the 20th over. Enter AEHCA skipper Shaun Tait and that’s when the carnage started! Tait was coming off a run-a-ball 48 on Saturday and he really upped the ante to add 171 runs for the fourth wicket with Weeks before Weeks was dismissed for a fine 96 from 104 balls (9 x 4’s & 1 x 6). Tait went on to smash an unbeaten 120 from just 66 balls with seven boundaries and 10 maximums. AEHCA finished with 4/292 from their 40 overs. Rhys Bullard (2/41) was the only multiple wicket taker for KI. The run chase never got going for the boys from KI as they were bowled out for 95 in the 38th over. Zac Trethewey (24) was the only batsman to pass 20. Five bowlers took wickets for Alexandra & Eastern Hills with Weeks capping off a great day with 3/22 from eight overs.

The Hills Cricket Association (HCA) kept their dreams of a fourth straight Meyer Shield title alive with an incredible come-from-behind 11-run win against Great Southern (GSCA) at Kangarilla. Hills were in all sorts of trouble as Great Southern made their way to 4/87 in pursuit of their moderate target of 108. Luke Goldner (25) and Ben Griffiths (21) were seemingly easing their side into a second consecutive final before Rohan Reid (4/14) and Steve Featherstone (3/32) combined brilliantly to take the last six wickets for just 10 runs as GSCA were bowled out for 97. Reid’s second spell was a masterpiece of bowling full at the stumps as he snared 4/1 from 23 balls. Earlier, Hills batted first and got off to an incredible start as Cole Davy (12) hit the first ball of the day from Sean McIvor high over deep square leg for six. McIvor had the last laugh as he dismissed Davy and Haydn Reid (16) on his way to figures of 2/25. Rohan Reid top scored with 35 from 54 balls (3 x 4’s) and just as he appeared to be getting on top, he was dismissed by off-spinner Ben Griffiths. Griffiths bowled an excellent spell to finish with 4/19 (7.1) but it was all in vain as Hills pulled off a ‘Houdini act’ to make their way into yet another Meyer Shield decider.

Torrens Valley finished off their 2020/21 campaign in style with a solid four-wicket victory over Murray Towns at Flagstaff Hill. Murray Towns batted first and through John Zadow (43 not out), James Dawson (34) and Aaron Zrim (31), put up a competitive total of 8/170 from their 40 overs. Shaun Atkins (2/28) and Andrew Mapstone (2/31) were the multiple wicket takers for Torrens Valley. Torrens Valley were in early trouble at 3/52 when Jacob Grieger joined Atkins to add 41 runs for the fourth wicket before Atkins was dismissed for 39 (35 balls). Grieger went on to make 52 from 63 balls (3 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s) and he was well supported by Simon Barnes (30) and Jack Druwitt (19 not out) as the Torrens Valley lads got up in the 36th over. Zrim was again the standout for Murray Towns with 2/13 from his seven overs. 

The Meyer Shield ‘Team of the Year’ was picked at the conclusion of Sunday’s games…..

Shaun Tait (c) (AEHCA) - 168 runs

Mitch Weeks (AEHCA) - 97 runs/6 wickets

Haydn Reid (HCA) - 76 runs

Ben Matthews (AEHCA) - 76 runs

Aaron Zrim (MTCA) - 70 runs/4 wickets

Zach Trethewey (KICA) - 69 runs

Scott Brown (GSCA) (wk) - 7 dismissals

Troy Blackwell (AEHCA) - 6 wickets

Rohan Reid (HCA) - 6 wickets

Sean McIvor (GSCA) - 5 wickets

Shaun Atkins (TVCA) - 5 wickets

Murraylands Football and Netball sporting results will live stream the final today from Kangarilla starting at 9.40am.

Grand Final (Tuesday 26/1/21 - 10.00am)

Alexandra & Eastern Hills v Hills (Kangarilla Oval)