Nairne have pulled off an incredible ‘A’ grade premiership win in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) following a 20-run win over Lobethal at Lobethal Oval on Saturday. Nairne had to win their final two minor round matches just to reach finals before winning two sudden-death finals to get to the decider. It’s Nairne’s 10th ‘A’ grade flag in 13 seasons in the AEHCA.

Nairne skipper Luke Timmins won the toss and decided to bat first with the Razorbacks going into the game without Jarrad Tait who was injured in the Preliminary Final. The experienced Richard Boscence came in to the side for his first ‘A’ grade game since January and got the visitors off to a good start with a 31-run opening stand with Matt Hein as Boscence made 24 (2 x 4’s). Timmins came in at the fall of the first wicket and made 33 with a few handy partnerships seeing Nairne to 4/82. Mitch Hein (19) joined Shane Kenney in what would be the decisive partnership of the match with the pair adding 51 runs for the fifth wicket. Kenney went on to top score with 37 (2 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as Nairne finished on 8/146 from their 45 overs. It was a competitive score considering the large ground and slow outfield. Five Lobethal bowlers took wickets with Dave Huxter (2/8) and Matt Martin (2/17) the standouts. 

Ben Matthews (22) and Mitch Weeks (15) opened the batting for Lobethal, putting on 19 runs for the first wicket. Daniel Norsworthy (3) went cheaply before Matthews and Sam Graeber added 32 runs for the third wicket. Graeber went on to top score with 31 before he was run out by Sam Rowe to leave the Tigers at 5/90 and the game was in the balance. Nairne turned the screws with Mitch Hein (3/10 off 8.1) and Brodie Clarke (3/25 off 9) doing the bulk of the damage as Lobethal lost their last 6/36 to be bowled out in the 45th over for 126. Matt Hein (1/21) got the big wicket of Matthews, while Rowe (1/12) and Chad Harrop (1/34) were the other wicket takers for the Razorbacks. Nairne skipper Luke Timmins was named man of the match for his innings of 33, two catches and leadership. 

So Nairne are the ‘kings’ of the AEHCA again with their 15th ‘A’ grade flag while Lobethal can hold their heads high after reaching their first AEHCA Grand Final. It was a tight season with six clubs in the hunt for finals action right up until the last few weeks of the campaign. Hopefully the 2021/22 season will be just as competitive. 

In the other senior grades, Macclesfield defeated Nairne by seven wickets to win the A2 premiership for the second season in a row, Finniss won the ‘B’ grade flag with a 36-run victory over Echunga while Nairne defeated Finniss by 35 runs to win the ‘C’ grade premiership. In the junior grades, Strathalbyn took out the under 16’s title with a 50-run win against Woodside while Nairne’s under 14’s made it three premierships for the club in 2020/21 with a tight 14-run win against Hahndorf.