Mt Lofty wrapped up the minor premiership after a comfortable 53-run against Mylor during round 11 action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) at Mylor on Saturday. The visitors batted first and were in trouble early at 2/10 as Ryan Pistola joined skipper Jordan Neis-Beer at the crease. This pair put on 58 for the third wicket before Neis-Beer was dismissed for 22 (68 balls). Pistola then added an innings-defining 77 runs with Adam Carthew (22) as the Redcaps posted 6/180 from their 45 overs. Pistola went on to top score with 92 from 111 balls (9 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). Oliver Sendy (2/34) and Oliver Barnes (2/39) were the multiple wicket takers for Mylor. The Pipers run chase got off to a poor start as they slipped to 5/53. Nic Wilson made 22 from 27 balls (4 x 4’s), while Todd Dellatorre was the standout batsman for Mylor with 61 from 65 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Ultimately, Mylor was bowled out for 127 in the 36th over with Carthew (3/18), Will Healey (3/22) and Connor Milde (3/31) doing the damage with the ball for Mt Lofty. 

Bridgewater kept their finals hopes alive with a 64-run win at Meadows on Saturday. The Raiders batted first with Ty Watson and James Dawson putting on 75 runs for the second wicket before Watson departed for 36 (63 balls). Dawson continued on to top score with 74 from 104 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6), while Justin Summerill (29) and Luke Hoyle (24) chimed in with handy contributions as the visitors reached 198 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Rohan Reid was the standout bowler for Meadows with 4/25 (8), while Jeremy Clark (2/40) and Haydn Reid (2/43) chipped in with a couple of wickets each. Oscar Tydeman got Meadows off to a fast start with 36 from 24 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6), but regular wickets fell as the Bulldogs were bowled out for 134 in the 38th over. Veteran Haydn Reid was the best of the batsmen with 51 from 69 balls (7 x 4’s). Dawson continued his good day with 3/29 (9), while skipper Jarrad Tait (2/20) and Finn Sullivan-Llewellyn (2/23) were the other multiple wicket takers.

Reigning premier Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) also kept themselves in the hunt for a top-four spot after defeating Stirling by 57 runs at Stirling Oval on Saturday. SCIB batted first with Lachlan Knight top scoring with 49 (69), while Ethan Dinning (26 not out), Aaron Thompson (25) and Jarrod Thompson (25) made handy contributions as SCIB posted 8/187 from their 45 overs. Jack Pick was the best of the Eagles bowlers with 2/18 (9), while Pete Fryer took 2/44 (7). Stirling got off to a fast start as they reached 1/60 in the ninth over with Connor McFadyen (31) leading the way. Things were about to take a dramatic turn however, as Beau Harwood came into the attack, with Stirling losing 5/4 to slump to 6/64. Harwood took four wickets in his first three overs on his way to figures of 4/32 (9) as Stirling were bowled out for 130 in the 37th over. Lachlan Knight (2/29) and Ben McGowan (2/40) were the other multiple wicket takers, while Andy Adams bowled a miserly spell of 1/12 from his nine-over spell, including the big wicket of McFadyen. 

Aldgate moved up to third spot on the ladder after a tight 27-run win in a low-scoring game at Aldgate. The Gaters batted first with Luke Smet (20) the only batsman to reach 20 runs as they were bundled out in the 42nd over for 106. All six Kangarilla bowlers took wickets with Jack Evans (3/26), Ben Evans (2/17) and Steve Featherstone (2/18) the leading wicket takers. Kangarilla fared even worse in the run chase as they slumped to 5/34, before being bowled out for 79 in the 32nd over, with Ryan Grimmond top scoring with 33 (72 balls). All five Aldgate bowlers took wickets with Callum Wauchope (2/6), Felix Farmer (2/9), Smet (2/19), Angus Bilsborow (2/19) and Matt Hansen (2/26) all picking up two wickets each. 

Ladder (after round 11)

Mt Lofty 40, Stirling 28, Aldgate 24, Mylor 24, Bridgewater 20, Scott Creek Ironbank 20, Kangarilla 12, Meadows 8.

Round 12 (22/2/25 - home teams named first)

Bridgewater v Stirling

Scott Creek Ironbank v Mylor

Mt Lofty v Aldgate

Kangarilla v Meadows