Port Elliot consolidated second spot on the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) ladder after defeating top side Noarlunga by seven wickets during round seven action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Port Elliot yesterday. Noarlunga batted first and were in early trouble at 3/28 as Jason Scarff joined Michael Ledgard at the crease. This pair set about resurrecting the innings as the visitors reached 3/83. Unfortunately Ledgard had to retire hurt on 26 (63 balls) and then Scarff was dismissed for 29 (49). Sean Williams top scored with 38 from 38 balls (5 x 4’s) as Noarlunga were dismissed for 137 in the 38th over. Liam Harris took 4/22 (6.1) for the Bloods, while Ethan Spriggs chipped in with 2/31 (8). Spriggs (16) and Tyson Levy got Port Elliot off to a good start with a 53-run opening stand. Levy went on to top score with 60 from 48 balls (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), while Jaspa Tonkin contributed 38 not out (42) as the winning runs came up in the 25th over. Jacob Banks took 2/18 for Noarlunga. 

Mt Compass won their second game of the season with an upset four-wicket victory at home over Encounter Bay. The Bays batted first and got into a reasonable position at 4/81 with Sam Hoffmann (32) and Jason Parry (21) leading the way. ‘Compass’ struck back to take the last 6/34 as the visitors were bowled out for 115 in the 39th over. Bailey Baldock (4/33), Mark Nash (2/9) and Robert Martin (2/31) were the leading wicket takers for the Bulls. Mt Compass were in all sorts of trouble in the run chase as they slumped to 6/41 after 24 overs with young seam bowler Kieran Garrett doing the damage with 3/15 from his eight overs. Mt Compass skipper Aaron Dalitz joined veteran all-rounder Nash at the crease in what would turn out to be a match-winning partnership worth 77 runs for the seventh wicket as the home side knocked off the target in the 39th over. Nash completed a fine all-round game with 48 not out (67 balls), while Dalitz made 31 not out from 42 balls. 

Myponga-Sellicks moved closer to a top-six spot after a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Willunga at Myponga yesterday. Willunga batted first and were in early strife at 3/9 before Seb Carius (39) and Rory Hanson (24) steadied things down with a 33-run partnership for the fourth wicket. That was as good as it got for the Demons as the Mudlarks took 7/48 to see Willunga bowled out for 90 in the 36th over. Ryan Banning was the standout bowler for Myponga-Sellicks with 4/26 from eight overs, while Ryan Haverty (2/14) and Kym Dooley (2/15) chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

The Mudlarks were untroubled in the run chase with the in-form Michael Tomlinson guiding his side to victory in the 25th over. Tomlinson, coming off a big century in the last game, finished with 49 not out from 84 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Jack McCauley (1/10) and Malcolm Radford (1/24) were the wicket takers for Willunga. 

Goolwa won their fifth game of the season with a comfortable 10-wicket victory at home against McLaren Districts. The Crushers batted first with Brodie Long (23) the only batsman to pass 20 as they were bowled out for 101 in the 38th over. Left-arm spinner James Lawrence was the star for the Magpies with 5/25 from his eight-over spell, while Dean Vickery snared 2/23 (8). Goolwa wasted no time in the run chase as they knocked off the target in just the 13th over. Matt Overall smashed 65 not out from just 33 balls (11 x 4’s, 1 x 6), while Sam Carlyle finished with 32 not out from 44 balls (5 x 4’s). 

Yankalilla consolidated their spot in the top-six with a clinical eight-wicket win at Victor Harbor yesterday. ‘Victor’ batted first with Cameron Jones (25) the only player to reach double figures for the Vipers as they were dismissed for just 78. Tigers skipper Luke Bartlett snared 4/19 (6), while Chris Clark (2/3), James Kerin (2/6) and Jimmy Hamblin (2/15) picked up two wickets apiece. Lachlan Whittlesea (39) and Aaron Smith (26) got Yankalilla off to a fast start with a 47-run opening stand, before the winning runs came up in just the 14th over. Jesse Ortega (1/13) and Lachlan Hywood (1/13) were the wicket takers for Victor Harbor. 

Ladder (after round 7)

Noarlunga 40, Port Elliot 34, Goolwa 30, McLaren Districts 28, Yankalilla 27, Encounter Bay 24, Myponga-Sellicks 22, Mt Compass 15, Victor Harbor 6, Willunga 0.

Round 8 (11/1/25 - 1 day games)

Noarlunga v Myponga-Sellicks

Willunga v Mt Compass 

McLaren Districts v Port Elliot

Yankalilla v Goolwa

Encounter Bay v Victor Harbor