Mount Lofty has all but booked their ticket to finals action this season after defeating Aldgate by 16 runs during round 13 action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Aldgate yesterday. The Redcaps batted first and were in a bit of trouble early as they slipped to 3/55 before Ryan Pistola joined Adam Carthew at the crease. This pair added 100 runs for the fourth wicket before Pistola went for 67 from 68 balls (9 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Carthew went on to register his third half century of the season, with 52 from 59 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Tim Noble (26 not out) and Peter Giannes (13 not out) made handy contributions at the end as Mount Lofty finished on 8/225 from their 45 overs. Felix Farmer (2/32) and Shaun Atkins (2/37) were the multiple wicket takers for the ‘Gaters’. The Aldgate run chase started in similar fashion with the home side in strife at 3/41 as Frank Clements joined Atkins. This would be the key partnership of the game, but when Atkins went for 47 off 32 balls (5 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), Mount Lofty were well on top. Clements went on to make 48 off 43 balls (4 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s) before being dismissed with the score at 7/128. Teenager Farmer battled hard and eventually top scored with his maiden ‘A’ grade half century (51 not out from 62 balls) as Aldgate were bowled out in the 44th over for 209. Carthew completed a fine all-round game with 3/34 (9), while Connor Milde (2/34) and Giannes (2/43) were the other multiple wicket takers for the Redcaps.

Bridgewater won their third game in a row to rocket into finals calculations following their dominant eight-wicket win against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Cherry Gardens. Bridgewater won the toss and sent the home side in and the move paid immediate dividends as SCIB slumped to 3/5. Brad Smith (23) and Darcy Campbell (18) tried to add some respectability to the scorecard before their side were bowled out for just 68. Five Bridgewater bowlers took wickets with Liam Risson the standout with 4/11 (6.3). Jarrad Tait bowled a miserly spell to finish with 2/8 (9), while Luke Hoyle snared 2/13 (5). The Raiders wasted no time in the run chase with Hoyle (34 not out) and Justin Summerill (18 not out) bringing up the winning runs in the 17th over. Daniel Desengo (1/18) and Ben McGowan (1/19) were the wicket takers for Scott Creek Ironbank.

Stirling has also just about wrapped up their spot in the finals after they won a thrilling contest against Mylor at Stirling Oval yesterday by one wicket. Mylor batted first and struggled from the start as they were 5/62 in the 21st over. Shane Maslin, batting down the order, joined Adrian Gaunt in an excellent partnership worth 90 runs for the sixth wicket which took their side to 5/152 from a rain-shortened innings of 40 overs. Gaunt top scored with 86 not out (121 balls) and Maslin made 39 not out (59 balls). Charlie Fryer with 2/23 from six overs was the only multiple wicket taker for the Eagles. Stirling looked well on track to win comfortably as Jack Pick (46) and Josh Cox (17) added 43 runs for the third wicket, before Pick combined with Pete Fryer (39) for a 39-run fourth wicket stand as Stirling reached 3/126. The wicket of Pick precipitated a collapse of 6/26 as the Eagles reached 9/152 with last man Ethan Penck joining veteran Julian Zytnik with scores tied. Penck held his nerve, scoring a boundary off the first ball he faced to get his side over the line. Tom Jensen (3/20) and Jesse Cooper (3/33) were the chief wicket takers for Mylor. 

The ‘Rohan Reid Roadshow’ continued yesterday with the Meadows skipper making his fifth century of the season, with the Bulldogs defeating Uraidla by 60 runs. Meadows sit on top of the ladder and have now won five games on the trot. Uraidla won the toss and sent Meadows in with the Rohan Reid and Marko Kovak partnership of 101 runs for the third wicket laying the foundation for Meadows to post 5/218 from their 45 overs. Kovac finished with 47 from 64 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6), while Reid batted throughout the innings to make 101 not out from 128 balls (9 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Ty Watson (1/19) was the pick of the Uraidla bowlers. Uraidla were in plenty of strife early as they plummeted to 4/15 in the 10th over. Will Bevan-Giles (2/8) and Chad Dawe (2/23) did all the early damage for the Bulldogs. Kovac continued his good day with 3/26 (9) and an early finish was on the cards with Uraidla at 7/78. Renzo Gaetan (33 not out) joined Simon Parker in adding an undefeated 80 runs for the eighth wicket with Parker top scoring with 70 not out (118 balls) as the home side finished on 7/158. 

Kangarilla had the bye.

Ladder - after round 13

Meadows 51, Mount Lofty 48, Stirling 48, Aldgate 33, Kangarilla 33, Bridgewater 33, Scott Creek Ironbank 30, Mylor 18, Uraidla 18.

Round 14 fixtures (4/2/23) - home team named first

Aldgate v Scott Creek Ironbank

Mount Lofty v Meadows 

Bridgewater v Kangarilla

Uraidla v Mylor

Stirling has the bye