Mylor won their first game of the season after defeating previously unbeaten Aldgate by six wickets during round five action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Aldgate Oval yesterday. Mylor won the toss and decided to bowl first and the move paid off early, with Aldgate in trouble at 2/11 in the 9th over. Mylor opening bowler Ben James claimed both wickets on his way to fine figures of 2/19 (9). Max Bilborow (12) and Jake Turnbull steadied the ship with a 32-run stand, then Shaun Atkins and Turnbull added 60 for the fourth wicket, before Turnbull departed for 37 (92 balls). Atkins continued on to top score with a hard-hitting 94 not out from 71 balls (9 x 4’s, 6 x 6’s), while Jack Woollard smashed 31 from just 13 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as Aldgate posted 9/199 from their 45 overs. Peter Johns (2/51) was the other multiple wicket taker for Mylor. The visitors got off to a flier in the run chase with openers Tom Plant and Liam Tansell putting on 69 from just 50 balls before Tansell was dismissed for a quickfire 42 from 23 balls (4 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Alex Kern (29) added 55 runs with Plant and then James (32) put on 56 for the fourth wicket with Plant as Mylor reached 3/180. Plant guided Mylor home with 20 balls to spare, finishing with 90 not out from 127 balls (11 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). Turnbull (2/50) was the leading wicket taker for Aldgate.

Meadows also won their first game for 2023/24 with a tight three-wicket win at home against Bridgewater. The Raiders batted first and were in all sorts of trouble early as they crashed to 5/30 in the 13th over. Peter Atkins (24) joined Jarrad Tait in a rescue mission as this pair added 85 runs for the sixth wicket before Tait went for 68 from 70 balls (8 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Bridgewater eventually were bowled out in the 45th over for 151. All six Meadows bowlers claimed wickets with Will Bevan-Giles (3/19), Rohan Reid (2/21) and Zack Robertson (2/23) leading the way. The Meadows run chase was dominated by Rohan Reid as he compiled a match-winning innings of 84 not out from 126 balls (6 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) to see the Bulldogs home. There were some tense moments as Meadows slipped to 5/97 to give the Raiders a whiff of victory. Veteran Chad Dawe (21) added 37 runs for the sixth wicket with his skipper and despite losing their seventh wicket still 18 runs short of victory, Meadows completed the victory with nine balls to spare. Tait completed an excellent all-round game with the fine figures of 4/10 from his nine overs. 

Mount Lofty won their third game of the season with a tight two-wicket victory at Stirling. The Eagles batted first with their innings underpinned by acting captain Jack Read who top scored with 77 from 86 balls (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). He was well supported by Sean McCullum (32) and Jacob Kemp (27 not out) as Stirling posted a competitive 6/192 from their 45 overs. Josh Healey was the unlikely hero with the ball for the Redcaps with the excellent return of 4/35 from his nine overs. Max Hawke (2/37) was the other wicket taker for the visitors. Josh Healey continued his good game as he opened the batting with 45 from 63 balls, while Josh Mitchell hit a quickfire 27 from 26 balls, but at 5/101, Stirling were slight favourites to pull off the victory. Tim Noble (25) joined Connor Milde (34) in a decisive partnership for the Redcaps as this pair added 72 runs for the sixth wicket to bring their side within sight of victory. Stirling fought back with three quick wickets and at 8/177, Mount Lofty needed 16 runs from 19 balls. Peter Giannes (10 not out) and Matt Pistola (6 not out) held their nerve, taking 13 runs from the 44th over to get their side home with seven balls to spare. Kemp (2/10) and Ezekiel Hemming (2/21) were the leading wicket takers for Stirling. 

Kangarilla won their second game in a row and are up to third spot on the HCA ladder following their 53-run win over the previously unbeaten Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens yesterday. ‘Kangies’ batted first with Steve Featherstone (14) and Ryan Grimmond (25) adding 39 runs for the first wicket. After this promising start, wickets fell regularly as Kangarilla slipped to 6/78 and a score of under 100 looked a possibility. Enter Michael White who whacked 40 from just 18 balls to give the innings some much needed impetus. White’s brief innings included four boundaries and three maximums as Kangarilla were bowled out for 151 in the 40th over. Suresh Sripada (3/35), Sam Hill (2/14), Thomas Watton (2/17) and Beau Thomas (2/25) were the multiple wicket takers for SCIB. The home side were in all sorts of trouble early in the run chase as they slumped to 3/10 with Ben Evans removing Watton, Darcy Campbell and Hill without scoring. The in-form Aaron Thompson joined his skipper Adam Shearwood and this pair set about resurrecting the innings through a 48-run union for the fourth wicket. In his final over, Evans claimed the key wicket of Thompson for 20 (30 balls) to finish with the excellent figures of 4/26 (9). Shearwood battled hard to top score with 35 (75 balls), but ultimately his side were bowled out for just 98 in the 28th over. Featherstone (2/9) and Baxter Knuckey (2/10) were the other multiple wicket takers for Kangarilla. 

Ladder (after round 5)

Aldgate 24, Scott Creek Ironbank 24, Kangarilla 18, Mount Lofty 18, Stirling 12, Bridgewater 12, Mylor 6, Meadows 6.

Round 6 fixtures (home teams named first)

Kangarilla v Aldgate

Stirling v Bridgewater

Scott Creek Ironbank v Mount Lofty

Meadows v Mylor