Port Elliot took the honours on day one of their match against local rival Goolwa during round nine action of the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Port Elliot on Saturday. The two teams are playing for the Goolwa-Port Elliot Cup presented by the South Lakes Golf Club. Goolwa won the toss and sent the Bloods in and after losing Colby Whitbourne (13) early, Ethan Spriggs and skipper Brodie Whitbourne dug in to add 62 runs for the second wicket before Spriggs was dismissed for 35 (101 balls). The in-form Joel Harris joined Whitbourne and this pair set about putting a big score on the board with a 68-run third wicket stand. Whitbourne went on to make a patient 61 from 153 balls (7 x 4’s), while Harris was eventually run out for 70 from 97 balls (6 x 4’s), his highest ‘A’ grade score. A flurry of wickets at the end of the innings saw Port Elliot lose 5/7, but they finished their 70 overs with a very competitive total of 9/220. Jayden Crees, in just his fifth match of the season, took his eighth career five-wicket haul for the Magpies with figures of 5/77 from a marathon 24 overs.  

Willunga are in excellent shape to win an incredible 21st consecutive match at stumps on day one of their round nine clash against Encounter Bay at Willunga. The Demons last tasted defeat back on the 12th of October 2019. Encounter Bay skipper Cam Lintern won the toss and elected to bat and it was tough going early as the visitors slipped to 3/36 with Sam Hoffmann (17), Ambrose Willloughby (8) and Dennis Rice (4) all back in the pavilion. Lintern joined Blake Bailey as this pair dug in against some tight Willunga bowling to put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Lintern was dismissed by Luke Goldner for 14. Lintern’s dismissal sparked a collapse of 7/21 as the Bays were dismissed for 89 in the 64th over. Bailey went on to top score with a patient innings of 20 from 106 balls. Goldner took the bowling honours with 4/23 from 17 overs and he was ably supported by skipper Luke Harding (3/8) and Simon Roberts (3/28). Joel Docking (7 not out) and Paul Roberts (2 not out) safely negotiated the six overs left in the day as the Demons reached 0/10 at stumps. 

Noarlunga are in a good position in their match against McLaren Districts after posting 7/271 on day one of their clash at McLaren Vale. Noarlunga skipper Jason Scarff won the toss and had no hesitation in deciding to bat first as he and opening partner Anthony Burgess started well to add 58 for the first wicket before Scarff was dismissed for 21. David Scarff then joined Burgess in a 55-run second wicket stand with Burgess bringing up his second half century of the season before being dismissed for 53 (95 balls). David Scarff (57 from 99 balls) continued on to make his third half century of the season and added 84 runs with Anthony Tucker (47) for the third wicket. Jeff Colo (24) and Scott Russell (34 not out) then made it four 50+ partnerships for the innings with a 53-run seventh wicket stand. McLaren Districts used nine bowlers for the day with Luke Goodieson taking his best ‘A’ grade figures with 4/53 off nine overs. Crushers skipper Stephen Nairn bowled well without luck to finish with 1/38 from 14 overs.