Port Elliot won their second game in a row after defeating McLaren Districts by eight wickets yesterday to consolidate their spot in the top-four of the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA). Port Elliot resumed the second day on 1/7 in pursuit of McLaren Districts first innings total of 101. After losing Jake Walton (9 off 64 balls), the Bloods were 2/25 but there was no further joy for McLaren Districts as opening batsman Hayden Gordge and skipper Joel Harris added an unbeaten third-wicket stand worth 78 runs to see Port Elliot over the line in the 47th over. Gordge went on to make 51 not out from 134 balls, while Harris finished 34 not out from 81 balls. David Smith (1/19) and Stephen Nairn (1/25) were the wicket takers for the Crushers. 

Willunga went to the top of the GSCA ladder with a comfortable 97-run victory over Encounter Bay at Willunga. The home side posted a good score of 4/228 on day one and the Bays were soon up against it as they slipped to 3/21 with Joe Last (2/9) and Jamie Graham (2/23) doing the early damage. Dillon Burns (14) and former skipper Cam Lintern added 32 runs for the fourth wicket but steady wickets continued to fall as the Bays were eventually bowled out for 131 in the 52nd over. Lintern was the standout batsman with 72 from 128 balls (6 x 4’s) but he needed more support with no other batsman surpassing 15. Leg-spinner Simon Roberts was the main destroyer for the Demons with 5/31 (11.5). It was Roberts’ 10th five-wicket haul in just 54 ‘A’ grade matches for Willunga.

Goolwa and Noarlunga played out a frustrating rain-affected draw in their round three match at Goolwa. Day two action started more than 90 minutes late due to the inclement weather with Noarlunga resuming at 0/8, chasing Goolwa’s first innings of 133. Noarlunga lost two early wickets to sit precariously at 2/21 before skipper Jason Scarff (12) joined opener Mason Parry (33) in a 31-run third wicket stand before Scarff was run out, precipitating a collapse of 3/11 to see the Shoes in deep trouble at 5/62. Anthony Burgess (26) and Jeff Colo (16) then put on 40 runs for the sixth wicket to put the visitors in sight of victory at 5/102 before both players were dismissed and the game swung back in the Magpies favour. With a tight finish looming, rain intervened again to wash play out for the day with Goolwa requiring three wickets and Noarlunga 23 runs for victory. Jayden Crees and James Lawrence were magnificent for the Magpies with Crees snaring 3/41 (24) and Lawrence 3/45 (20). 

Round 4 fixtures (home team named first/two-day games)

Port Elliot v Willunga

Noarlunga v McLaren Districts

Encounter Bay v Goolwa

Ladder (after round 3)

Willunga 18, Goolwa 15, Port Elliot 12, Noarlunga 9, Encounter Bay 0, McLaren Districts 0.