Meadows have started 2022 in style with a crushing 124-run win at Kangarilla during round 11 action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) yesterday. The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first and they got off to a good start with Haydn Reid (35) and Luke Tonkin (30) adding 54 runs for the first wicket. Skipper Rohan Reid came in at the fall of the second wicket and made 40 from 44 balls (5 x 4’s) to top score for the Bulldogs. He and fellow veteran Chad Dawe (27 from 26 balls) put on 47 for the sixth wicket as Meadows finished on 8/162 from their 40 overs. Steve Featherstone was the main wicket taker for ‘Kangies’ with 4/24 (8). ‘Feathers’ leads the HCA wicket takers list with 19 scalps at the miserly average of just 9.63. Kangarilla would’ve been reasonably happy with keeping Meadows to 162 but their batting effort was a disaster from the start. The home side only had one batsman, Luke Stevens (10), reach double figures as they were rolled for just 38 in the 21st over. All four Meadows bowlers took wickets with Tom Bevan-Giles (3/10), Dawe (3/10), Rohan Reid (3/11) and Brad Louch (1/7) sharing the 10 Kangarilla wickets. 

Reigning premier Mount Lofty are back on top of the ladder following their convincing 88-run win over Uraidla at Heathfield Oval yesterday. The Redcaps batted first with Josh Healey and Adam Carthew putting on 129 runs for the first wicket before Carthew was dismissed in the 30th over for 50 (89 balls). Aaron Smith (28 not out) then added 83 for the second wicket before Healy was out for a fine 118 from 123 balls. It was Healey’s first ‘A’ grade century and his knock included four boundaries and eight sixes. Healey is having a career-best season with 453 runs at an average of 50.33. Mount Lofty finished their 40 overs on an imposing 2/222. Renzo Gaetan (1/30) and Israel Symington (1/60) were the wicket takers for Uraidla. The Demons were never really in the run chase as they batted out their 40 overs to finish on 9/134. Peter Wilson (25) and Michael Parker (20) were the leading scorers for the visitors. Six Redcaps bowlers took wickets with Peter Giannes the pick of them, snaring 3/26 from his eight-over spell. 

Stirling consolidated their spot in the top-four with a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Scott Creek ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens. The home side batted first and struggled through their 40 overs to post a mediocre 9/110. Nathan Abbott (24), Max Matheson (16 not out), Adam Shearwood (15) and Darcy Campbell (12) were the only batsmen to reach double figures. Teenager Charlie Fryer captured his best ‘A’ grade figures for Stirling to finish with the figures of 4/20 (8). He was well supported by Jack Pick (2/26), Ethan Penck (1/18) and Pete Fryer (1/20). Stirling wasted no time in getting on with the run chase as they knocked the runs off in the 24th over for the loss of just three wickets. Daniel Gonzalez got the Eagles off to a fast start with 26 from 23 balls (2 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) before Pick (26 not out) and Harrison Webb added an unbeaten stand worth 61 runs for the fourth wicket. Webb went on to make his highest score for the Eagles with 47 not out from 36 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Andy Adams (1/17), Beau Thomas (1/20) and Aaron Thompson (1/24) were the wicket takers for Scott Creek Ironbank. 

Aldgate moved back to second spot on the HCA ladder with a solid seven-wicket win against Bridgewater at the picturesque Basket Range Oval. The Raiders batted first and were in early trouble as they slumped to 4/23. Liam Sutcliffe was playing a lone hand for 'Bridgy' as he top scored with 49 (10 x 4's). Anthony Jennings (17) was next best with the bat for Bridgewater as they were bowled out for 101 in the 32nd over. Matt Lennon took his best ‘A’ grade figures for Aldgate with 4/28 (8). Lennon was well supported by young off-spinner Charlie Morbey (2/13) and skipper Jake Turnbull (2/14). Aldgate were in big trouble early in their innings as they slipped to 3/15 with Caleb Risson (2/16) and Luke Hoyle (1/8) getting the early breakthroughs. Luke Smet and Angas Wauchope came together and steadily put their side back in the game. The pair added 91 runs in an unbeaten fourth wicket stand to see the ‘Gaters’ home in the 25th over. Smet finished on 54 not out (8 x 4’s, 1 x6), while Wauchope made 33 not out (2 x 4’s, 1 x 6). 

Ladder (after round 11)

Mount Lofty 48, Aldgate 48, Stirling 45, Kangarilla 45, Meadows 39, Uraidla 18, Scott Creek Ironbank 18, Bridgewater 3.

Round 12 fixture (home team named first)

Stirling v Aldgate

Mount Lofty v Scott Creek Ironbank

Uraidla v Kangarilla 

Meadows v Bridgewater