Port Elliot won their second game of the season with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Encounter Bay during round three action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Encounter Bay on Saturday. The home side batted first and reached 4/68 from 28 overs before rain halted play on day one. On day two, the Bays pushed on before being bowled out for 146 in the 52nd over. Sam Hoffmann (46), Lachlan Barrett (25) and Blake Bailey (22 not out) were the leading run scorers for Encounter Bay. Ben Griffiths (3/41), Simon Donaldson (3/58) and Levi Stringer (2/22) were the leading wicket takers for Port Elliot. The Bloods were in early trouble at 2/26, as skipper Joel Harris and Liam Harris came together to add 108 runs for the third wicket before Liam Harris went for 40 (77). Joel Harris continued on to top score with 66 not out (99), his second half-century in a row, as the winning runs came up in the 35th over. 

Yankalilla won their first game of 2025/26 after defeating McLaren Districts by four wickets at McLaren Vale. The home side batted first on day one and reached 3/67 from 28 overs before the rain arrived. Resuming on day two, the Crushers made their way to be all out for 144. Daniel Petrucci (31 not out) was the only batsman to pass 20, white there were 26 extras. Ashley Madden (2/14), Ryan Borlace (2/16) and Trent Starke (2/20) were the leading wicket takers for the Tigers. Yankalilla had 54 overs to get the runs with their innings dominated by Luke Bartlett. Bartlett held the innings together with a fine 73 not out (104 balls) as the winning runs came up in just the 36th over. Evan Clark (2/30) and Roy Graham (2/33) led the way with the ball for the Crushers. 

Mt Compass made it three wins in a row to start the season after defeating Willunga by eight wickets. Willunga batted first and were bowled out for 96 with Fletcher Harding (32) top scoring. Veteran Aaron Dalitz was the star for Mt Compass, taking 5/31 from 14 overs. ‘Compass’ wasted no time knocking off the target in 17 overs before declaring at 2/99. Shannon Jones top scored with 55 not out (6 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Batting a second time, Willunga fared slightly better as they made 105 with Harding top scoring again with 26 (4 x 4’s). Bailey Baldock (3/18), Aaron Dalitz (2/19) and Jamie Wirth (2/25) were the multiple wicket takers. This left Mt Compass with 22 overs to make 103 runs for outright victory. The task appeared a comfortable one, however Willunga hit back hard with the ball. Once Jones departed for 27 (4 x 4’s), the Demons were in strife at 4/38. Wickets continued to fall, and with 20 balls remaining in the game, it appeared the Demons would snatch an unlikely victory with Aaron Dalitz and number 11 Baldock at the crease. This pair survived the tense final moments as ‘Compass’ finished on 9/72. Brayden Pansini was the star with the ball for Willunga with the excellent figures of 6/20 from 11 overs. 

Noarlunga won their second game of the season after defeating Goolwa by five wickets at Goolwa. The Magpies started day two on 5/72, with skipper Matt Overall the next batsman in after missing the rain-shortened day one. The Shoes took two early wickets to reduce the home side to 7/92, before Overall hit a quickfire 51 not out from 38 balls (3 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s) as Goolwa were dismissed for 146 in the 58th over. Sean Williams (3/57) and Ben Stewart-Tonkin (2/20) were the leading wicket takers for Noarlunga, while there were three run outs. The Shoes started well with Travis Bronstein (45) and Cam Bullard (42) adding 82 for the first wicket inside 17 overs. Jamie Diener chipped in with 34 (46 balls) as the winning runs came up in the 37th over. Left-arm spinner James Lawrence took 3/48 for the Magpies to take his career tally to a record 447 wickets for Goolwa. 

Victor Harbor had the bye.

Ladder (after round 3)

Mt Compass 18, Port Elliot 12, Noarlunga 12, Yankalilla 6, Willunga 6, McLaren Districts 6, Goolwa 6, Yankalilla 6, Encounter Bay 6, Victor Harbor 0.

Round 4 (8/11/25 & 15/11/25 - 2 day games)

Yankalilla v Encounter Bay

Noarlunga v McLaren Districts

Willunga v Goolwa

Port Elliot v Victor Harbor

Mt Compass has the bye