Port Elliot turned the tables on Encounter Bay in their grand final rematch during round one action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) yesterday at Encounter Bay. Port Elliot won a tight, low-scoring game by three wickets with 20 balls remaining. Encounter Bay batted first and battled their way to 5/119 from their 40 overs. Finn Magor top scored for the Bays with 51 not out (94 balls), while Kieran Garrett scored 28 (83 balls). Tyson Somerfield was the leading wicket taker for the Bloods with 3/31 (7). Port Elliot were in trouble early as Chris Butler snared 3/16 (8) for Encounter Bay to leave the visitors at 4/32. Port Elliot skipper Joel Harris (38) and brother Liam (36) then combined for a 51-run stand for the fifth wicket, before Tyson Somerfield (21 not out) completed a good all-round double to see Port Elliot home in the 37th over. Blake Bailey (2/19) and Cam Lintern (2/21) were the other multiple wicket takers for the Bays.

Goolwa got their 2024/25 campaign off to a good start with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Victor Harbor. The Vipers batted first on their home deck with Josh Boyko (11) the only player to reach double figures as they were bowled out in the 37th over for just 50. Five Magpies bowlers took wickets with Matt Overall (3/5), Andy Evans (2/0) and Dean Vickery (2/4) leading the way. Goolwa knocked off the victory target inside 12 overs with Sam Carlyle (29 not out) and Jack Ward (20) adding 45 for the first wicket. Lachlan Hywood (1/12) was the sole wicket taker for Victor Harbor.

McLaren Districts had a solid 23-run win against Myponga-Sellicks to start their season in style. The Crushers batted first with new skipper Justin Twartz top scoring with 52 from 88 balls (8 x 4’s), while Ben Worrall made 21 (45 balls). Kym Dooley (2/14) and Vinnie Nizzola (2/26) were the multiple wicket takers for Myponga-Sellicks. The Mudlarks run chase never really got going as they slipped to 8/47 with Stephen Nairn delivering a devastating spell for the Crushers. Nairn snared 6/22 from his eigh-over spell as Myponga-Sellicks eventually reached a total of 111 thanks to Nizzola (26) and Kym Dooley (23) helping the tail to wag. George Beard (2/25), Kevin Grant (1/21) and Roy Graham (1/22) were the other wicket takers for the Crushers.

2023/24 finalists Yankalilla got their season off to a good start with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Willunga yesterday. Willunga batted first and were bowled out in the 35th over for just 84. James Kerin (3/11) and Ashley Madden (3/31) were the chief wicket takers for the Tigers. Yankalilla lost a couple of early wickets to slip to 2/14, before skipper Luke Bartlett (43 not out) and Chris Clark (22 not out) saw their side home in the 15th over. Eddie Last (1/8) and Mal Radford (1/32) were the wicket takers for the Demons.

A Cam Bullard century has led Noarlunga to a comfortable eight-wicket win against Mount Compass at Burgess Oval. Bullard scored 112 not out from just 51 balls (19 x 4’s, 5 x 6’s) to see his side to the victory target of 160 in the 18th over. Earlier, Mount Compass had made 7/159 from their 40 overs with Southern Districts ‘A’ grade player Rilee Endersby scoring 52 not out (49 balls), while Aaron Dalitz whacked a quickfire 46 (43 balls). Jett Holberton with 2/17 (6) was the leading wicket taker for the Shoes. 

Round 2 (one-day games - home team named first)

Port Elliot v Mt Compass

Willunga v Encounter Bay

Myponga-Sellicks v Goolwa

Victor Harbor v McLaren Districts

Noarlunga v Yankalilla

Ladder (after round 1)

Goolwa 6, Yankalilla 6, Noarlunga 6, McLaren Districts 6, Port Elliot 6, Encounter Bay 0, Myponga-Sellicks 0, Mt Compass 0, Willunga 0, Victor Harbor 0.