Nairne kept their top-two hopes alive with a thrilling one-run win against Strathalbyn during round 17 action in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) at Nairne on Saturday. Nairne batted first and were soon in trouble at 3/16, and this later became 6/49 as Jack May made his way to the crease. May played the most important knock of the innings with a top-scoring 39 (58 balls) as the Razorbacks completed their 45 overs on 9/131. Six Strathalbyn bowlers took wickets with Matt Abbott (3/22) and Brayden Gaiter (2/16) the best of them. Strathalbyn got themselves into a good position at 2/85 with Luke Cousins (37) and Matt Harris (21) putting on 64 runs for the third wicket. The loss of Harris brought about a collapse of 7/40 as ‘Strath’ stumbled to 9/125. The Stallions needed six runs to win off the final over, and got singles off the first four balls, before Lachlan Cutting was run out off the penultimate ball, as the home side were bowled out for 130. Brodie Clarke continued his excellent season with figures of 3/18 from nine overs. Clarke now has 29 wickets at an average of 13.14 for the season. He was well supported by Chad Harrop (2/22) and Nick Williams (2/31).    

Langhorne Creek continued their unbeaten season with an 80-run win over Bremer/Callington in a match reduced to 40 overs after overnight rain. The Tigers batted first on their home deck and made 7/197 with Brodie O’Dea top scoring with 43 (47 balls). He was well supported by Ben Warren (40), Matt Tonkin (39) and Jaspa Tonkin (35 not out). Nathan Fitzgerald (3/16) was the pick of the Cobras’ bowlers. Barring a miracle in the final round, Fitzgerald, who currently has 37 wickets for the season, will win the AEHCA bowling trophy. The Cobras were in trouble an hour into their innings as they slipped to 4/43 with Daniel Kropp (2/22) and Jack Humphries (2/27) sharing the wickets for the 'Creeks'. Graydon Brand (41 not out) and Alex Durbidge (27 not out) batted out the rest of the overs as the Cobras finished on 4/117.

Woodside won their third game in a row, and at the same time put a dent in Macclesfield’s finals hopes, after defeating the Redbacks by four wickets at Woodside on Saturday. Jeremy Druwitt (3/17) and Harrison Reid (3/37) were the best of the Warriors bowlers as they restricted ‘Maccy’ to 9/157 from their 45 overs. Tom Keough (37), Tom Filsell (35) and Joe Lions (25 not out) were the main run scorers for Macclesfield. Woodside chased the total down with more than 11 overs to spare through handy contributions from Brad Collins (39), Dave Wescombe (38 not out) and Matt Johnston (22). A whopping 38 extras also boosted the Warriors total. Lions (2/10) and Keough (2/34) were the multiple wicket takers for Macclesfield.

Lobethal maintained second spot on the ladder with a high-scoring 37-run win against Hahndorf. ‘Lobey’ batted first with a 93-run partnership between Ben Matthews and Daniel Norsworthy (39) setting the base for Lobethal’s total of 6/235. Matthews finished with 100 not out (141 balls), with his innings containing six boundaries and four sixes. It was Matthews’ seventh ‘A’ grade century for Lobethal (including one T20 ‘ton’). Mitch Bannister took 2/37 for the Magpies. Daniel Jenner (75) and Lachlan Huxtable (55) gave Hahndorf a chance with an 82-run stand for the second wicket, but only one other batsman, Michael Shanahan (21), reached double figures as the Magpies were dismissed in the 42nd over for 198. Six Lobethal bowlers took wickets with Lachie Bates (2/3), Mitchell Weeks (2/11), Riley Harten (2/18) and Matt Jenkin (2/44) taking eight wickets between them. 

Ladder - after round 17

Langhorne Creek 62, Lobethal 46, Nairne 44, Strathalbyn 32, Macclesfield 30, Woodside 28, Bremer/Callington 18, Hahndorf 12. 

Round 18 fixtures (4/3/23) - home team named first

Hahndorf v Nairne

Langhorne Creek v Macclesfield

Lobethal v Woodside

Strathalbyn v Bremer/Callington