Bridgewater made it two wins on the trot after a thrilling nine-run win in a low-scoring contest at Kangarilla yesterday during round three action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA). The Raiders batted first with Ty Watson (22) and Luke Hoyle (19) getting their side off to a good start with a 40-run opening stand. Regular wickets fell after the opening partnership as the Raiders slumped to 5/70, before Jarrad Tait scored a quickfire 36 from 28 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Ultimately, Bridgewater were bowled out in the 35th over for just 125. Troy Martinsen (3/19), Steve Featherstone (3/34) and Ryan Grimmond (2/26) were the leading wicket takers in a good bowling performance from Kangarilla. The Kangarilla run chase was underpinned by a patient innings from Grimmond, who made 60 from 110 balls (7 x 4’s), but he received very little support with Featherstone (11) and Kyal Walton (11) the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Despite this, ‘Kangies’ looked the likely winner at 7/115, before they lost their last 3/1 to be bowled out in the 42nd over for 116. Watson was the hero at the end for the Raiders with 3/23 (5.5 overs), while Tait completed a fine double with a match-winning 5/17 from his nine overs. 

Aldgate’s perfect start to the season continued with a comfortable eight-wicket win against Mount Lofty at Aldgate Oval. The ‘Gaters’ now sit on top of the ladder with three wins from as many games. Mount Lofty won the toss and elected to bat first with Josh Healey (20) and Nick Justice (22) adding 35 runs for the first wicket. Redcaps skipper Jordan Neis-Beer (20) and Connor Milde (18) made useful contributions, while Ryan Pistola top scored with a patient 43 from 86 balls (3 x 4’s). The Redcaps were bowled out for 156, which was probably 50+ runs less than they’d hoped for. Five Aldgate bowlers took wickets with Matty Hansen (4/26) the standout. Skipper Jake Turnbull (2/25) and Shaun Atkins (2/26) were the other multiple wicket takers for the home side. The inform pair of Mitch Thomas and Josh Callaghan got Aldgate off to another good start with a partnership of 64 before Callaghan went for 17 (28 balls). Turnbull and Thomas then added 27 for the second wicket as Thomas reached his second half century in a row before being removed for 55 from 47 balls (7 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). ‘Turbo’ continued on to make 54 not out from 58 balls (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s) with teenager Max Bilsborow chipping in with 16 not out as the winning runs came up in the 29th over. Matt Pistola (1/13) and Milde (1/33) were the wicket takers for Mount Lofty. 

Reigning premier Stirling registered their second win of the 2023/24 campaign after a three-wicket win over Meadows at Stirling Oval. The home side won the toss and elected to field as Luke Tonkin and Rohan Reid opened the batting for the Bulldogs. This pair wasn’t separated until they’d added 127 runs in the 26th over with Tonkin going for 28 (72 balls). Reid continued on to top score with 87 from 86 balls (12 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), his first half century of the season, but from 0/127 Meadows were dismissed for 194. Brad Louch (29) and Ryan Clarke (13) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Veteran Chris Shaw (4/28), Connor McFadyen (3/32) and Ned Hopgood (2/22) were the chief destroyers for the Eagles, while Pete Fryer bowled a miserly spell of 0/16 from his nine overs. The Eagles’ run chase started in a blaze of glory with 21 runs coming from the first over of the innings bowled by Louch, while the 50-run partnership between Jack Read and Raph Baker came up in just the sixth over! Louch eventually got his man as he dismissed Read for a whirlwind 46 from just 29 balls (6 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). After the fast start, three wickets fell and it was an even contest with the home side at 3/82 as Harrison Webb joined his skipper Jack Pick at the crease. This pair ultimately put on a match-winning stand worth 83 runs for the fourth wicket with Pick making 44 (72 balls) Webb went on to top score with 48 not out (48 balls) with the winning runs coming up in the 37th over. Clarke (3/25) and Louch (2/51) were the leading wicket takers for Meadows. 

Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) are the other undefeated team after three rounds after a tight 21-run win against Mylor at Cherry Gardens yesterday. SCIB won the toss and decided to bat first and had a number of handy partnerships with Adam Shearwood (39), Sam Hill (23) and Tom Watton (18) all contributing in the top order. For the second time this season, Aaron Thompson played the pivotal knock of the innings with 52 not out from 49 balls (4 x 4’s). It was Thompson’s second half century of the season and it helped lift his side to a healthy total of 8/186 from 45 overs. Jesse Cooper (4/35) and Ben James (2/34) were the multiple wicket takers for Mylor, while Oliver Barnes bowled an economical spell of 0/11 from his nine overs. Mylor got themselves into a winning position in the run chase as they reached 2/113 in the 25th over with contributions from Ben James (24) and Todd Dellatorre (20), but it was the wicket of Shane Maslin that turned the game in Scott Creek Ironbank’s favour. Maslin top scored with 44 from 72 balls (6 x 4’s), but his dismissal precipitated a collapse of 8/52 as Mylor were bowled out in the 40th over for 165. Five SCIB bowlers took wickets with Watton the standout with 4/28 (8), while Beau Thomas snared 2/30 (9). 

Ladder (after round 3)

Aldgate 18, Scott Creek Ironbank 18, Stirling 12, Bridgewater 12, Kangarilla 6, Mount Lofty 6, Mylor 0, Meadows 0.

Round 4 fixtures (home teams named first)

Bridgewater v Aldgate

Kangarilla v Mylor

Meadows v Mount Lofty

Stirling v Scott Creek Ironbank