Mylor has snuck into the top-four after a thrilling last-ball, two-wicket win over Stirling during round 14 action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Mylor on Saturday. The Pipers needed eight runs off the last over to win and secure a finals berth with Jesse Cooper on strike. Cooper (13 not out) hit six runs off the first five balls of the over, leaving two runs to win from the last ball, and Cooper duly delivered to the delight of his team mates. Earlier, Stirling batted first and posted a competitive total of 6/172 from their 45 overs with Jack Pick (76 not out) and Harrison Webb (56) adding 106 for the third wicket. Nick Cook (2/29) and Dylan Quinn (2/31) were the multiple wicket takers for Mylor. Liam Tansell (38), Michael Warburton (23) and Craig Fielke (21) made useful contributions to the Mylor run chase, before Cooper’s late heroics got them over the line. All six Stirling bowlers took wickets with Pick (2/15) and Ned Hopgood (2/42) the leading wicket takers for the Eagles. 

Kangarilla finished their season in style as they defeated Bridgewater by four wickets to knock the Raiders out of finals contention. Bridgewater batted first and it was a struggle as they were eventually bowled out for 108 in the 41st over. Shannon Cox (32 not out) and James Graves (20) were the only Raiders batsmen to reach 20 runs. Ben Evans (3/20), Steve Featherstone (3/22) and Ryan Grimmond (2/12) did the damage with the ball for Kangarilla. Ryan Smallman (32 not out), Jake Turnbull (30) and Featherstone (21) top scored for ‘Kangies’ as they got across the line in the 40th over. Left-armer Ty Watson was the standout bowler for Bridgewater with figures of 4/30 (9). 

Reigning premier Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) made it four wins on the trot after a high-scoring 43-run at Aldgate on Saturday. SCIB batted first with in-form opening pair Adam Shearwood (25) and Aaron Thompson adding 74 runs for the first wicket before Shearwood departed in the 17th over. Lachlan Knight then joined the action and made 51, his first half-century of the season, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Thompson. Coming off an even 100 in his previous game, Thompson brought up his third ‘ton’ for SCIB with 133, his highest score for the club, as the visitors posted an imposing 7/260 from their 45 overs. Left-armers Matt Hansen (3/44) and Luke Smet (2/29) were the best of the Aldgate bowlers. The Gaters put up a decent show in the run chase with opening batsman Mitch Thomas top scoring with 84, while Pete Bowen (41), Max Bilsborow (26) and Pierce Cordes-Harvey (21) helped lift their side to a total of 217 before being bowled out in the 42nd over. Jayden Rea (3/30), Andy Adams (3/46) and Daniel Desengo (2/19) were the multiple wicket takers for Scott Creek Ironbank. 

Premiership favourites Mt Lofty made it 12 wins in a row following their comfortable eight-wicket victory at Meadows. The home side batted first with Haydn Reid (43), Rohan Reid (39) and Callan Blackwell (23) the leading run scorers as the Bulldogs posted a total of 150 before being bowled out in the 40th over. Connor Milde was the pick of the bowlers for the Redcaps with 4/28 (9), his best figures of the season, while Will Healey (2/26) and Josh Mitchell (2/41) chimed in with a couple of scalps each. Nick Justice and Josh Healey got Mt Lofty off to a fast start in the run chase with an opening stand worth 101 runs before Justice departed for a quickfire 61 from 46 balls (12 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Healey went on to score 44 not out (70 balls) as the winning runs came up in the 23rd over. 

Ladder (after round 14)

Mt Lofty 52, Stirling 36, Scott Creek Ironbank 32, Mylor 28, Bridgewater 24, Aldgate 24, Kangarilla 20, Meadows 8.

Round 1 Finals (15/3/25)

Mt Lofty v Stirling (Heathfield)

Scott Creek Ironbank v Mylor (Cherry Gardens)