Mount Lofty won their first game of the season on Saturday after a thrilling two-wicket victory over Kangarilla in round six action of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA). Kangarilla won the toss and decided to bat first and Jono Makai (38) and Cam Venter (41) put the home side in a strong position after a 65-run partnership for the second wicket, before a string of wickets saw Kangarilla fall to 6/121. Brodie May (29) helped lift the total to a competitive 9/163 after 40 overs. Mount Lofty shared the wickets around with all seven bowlers getting in on the act. Will Healey was the only multiple wicket taker with 2/40 (8). The Redcaps run chase didn’t start well with none of the top four batsmen getting past 12. Kangarilla opening bowler Steve Featherstone was on fire claiming 3/27 (7). Enter Jason Matulick and along with Brad Hutton, this pair got Mount Lofty back on track with an excellent partnership before Hutton was run-out for 42 (39 balls). Matulick carried on to make 52 not out (56 balls) and he was helped out by Adam Carthew (29) to get his side close to the target. There was a mini collapse to send a bit of a fright through the Redcaps as Cole Davy took 4/13 from seven overs but they eventually passed the target in the 38th over.

Meadows continued its undefeated start to 2019/20 with a convincing seven-wicket victory at home over Stirling. Meadows were without some key personnel including skipper Brad Dawe and opening bowler Chad Dawe, but it didn’t matter as they chased down Stirling’s score of 6/171 in the 35th over. Earlier, Stirling won the toss and decided to bat and they had plenty of contributors without anyone going on to a big score. Jack Pick (39), Kosta Sinodinos (30 not out), Pete Fryer (30), Daniel Gonzalez (25) and Fergus Southon (22) all got starts for the Eagles. Brad Louch was the pick of the Bulldogs’ bowlers finishing with 2/26 from his eight overs. Haydn Reid (71 not out) and Luke Tonkin (42) continued their fine season as they added 68 for the first wicket before Anthony Hughes (21) and Matt Pethick (25 not out) saw Meadows safely to the target. 

Bridgewater won their second game for the season with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Flagstaff Hill at Bridgewater Oval. Flagstaff Hill were missing skipper Kyle Petty and after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the Falcons were in desperate trouble at 6/40. Josh Dunlevey (34) and Braydon Green (20) tried hard to resurrect the innings through a 33-run seventh wicket partnership but eventually Flaggies finished all out (batting one short) for 99 in the 38th over. Veteran Luke Hoyle was the chief destroyer for the Raiders with the fine figures of 4/20 from 6.2 overs. Bridgewater took their time at the start of the run chase with Charlie Birnie (28) and Kieran McCaw (32 not out) adding 60 for the first wicket before Justin Summerill smashed 35 not out (5 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) to reach the target in the 28th over.

Round 7 (14/12/19) fixtures are one-day matches (home team named first).....

Meadows v Aldgate

Kangarilla v Stirling

Mt Lofty v Bridgewater

Flagstaff Hill has the bye