Lobethal moved back into second spot on the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ladder after defeating Strathalbyn by 165 runs during round 16 action at Strathalbyn on Saturday. Lobethal had a few handy inclusions with East Torrens ‘A’ grade players Ryan King, Jeremy Hackett and Cooper Luke fronting up for their original club. The Tigers batted first with King making 57 from 44 balls (8 x 4’s , 1 x 6) and combining with skipper Mitch Weeks in an 80-run first wicket stand. Weeks then put on 79 runs for the second wicket with Luke (41 from 50 balls) and then went on to top score with 73 (76 balls) as his side finished with 8/246 from their 45 overs. Blake Beelitz (3/24), Mark Abbott (3/44) and Kane Gaiter (2/41) were the chief wicket takers for ‘Strath’. The Stallions only had Luke Cousins (27) and Mark Abbott (17) reach double figures as they were rolled for 81 in the 31st over. Five Lobethal bowlers took wickets including Will Zadow (3/14), Hackett (2/5) and Lachlan Elsworthy (2/15).

Woodside won their second game in a row with a low-scoring 21-run win against Bremer/Callington at Callington. Woodside batted first and were in good shape at 2/97 with Brad Collins (45), Tommy Baldock (29) and Thomas Rooney (28) leading the way, before a collapse of 8/43 saw the Warriors bowled out for 140. Nathan Fitzgerald continued his excellent season with 4/32 (9), and he was well supported by Johnny Fitzgerald (3/18) and Graydon Brand (2/15). The Cobras started the run chase well as they also reached 2/97, with Brand (22) and Dhanushka Abeynayake putting on 71 runs for the third wicket. Abeynayake continued on to top score with 64 from 78 balls (10 x 4’s, 1 x 6), but the Cobras collapsed to lose 8/22 to be bowled out for 119. Chris Baschiera, the sixth bowler used by Woodside, was the destroyer as he dismissed the last five batsmen on his way to figures of 5/1 (the one run was a wide)! Baschiera dismissed Abeynayake before rolling the last four batsmen for ‘ducks’, including three wickets in four balls to finish the game. 

Hahndorf also won their second game in a row with a six-wicket win at Macclesfield. ‘Maccy’ won the toss and decided to bat first with David Caddy (40) and Josh Lewis-Burns (38) providing the backbone of their total of 9/180. Teenage opening bowler Mitch Bannister was the star for the Magpies as he snared 5/36 from his nine-over spell. Hahndorf got off to a fantastic start in their run chase with Ben Montgomerie and Dan Jenner adding 130 for the first wicket before Montgomerie went for 61. Jenner went on to make 57 and he received good support from Hudson Trafford-Walker with 25 not out as the winning runs were knocked off with three overs to spare. Lachlan Barrett was the pick of the Redbacks bowlers with 1/25 from his nine overs. 

Langhorne Creek are still undefeated in 2022/23 after they defeated Nairne by 14 runs in a high scoring encounter at Nairne on Saturday. Langhorne Creek batted first with Brodie O’Dea (18) and Dan Kropp putting on 37 runs for the first wicket, before four quick wickets fell as the Tigers slipped to 4/53. Kropp was digging in and he was joined by Brayden Frost who whacked a quick 50 from just 34 balls (7 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Jaspa Tonkin was next in and he picked up from where Frost left off with a punishing 66 not out from 60 balls. His innings included three boundaries and four sixes. Kropp ended up with 34 (89 balls) as Langhorne Creek finished with 8/212 from their 45 overs. Brodie Clarke was the pick of the Razorbacks bowlers with 3/32 (9). Nairne made a good fist of the run chase but ultimately no batsman went on to the big score required. Mitch Hein (44), Clarke (26 not out), Josh Hardy (25), Jack May (22) and Chad Harrop (20) all made handy contributions before the Razorbacks finished on 8/192. Troy Blackwell (2/36) and Ben Warren (2/43) were the multiple wicket takers for the ‘Creeks’.  

Ladder - after round 16

Langhorne Creek 58, Lobethal 42, Nairne 40, Strathalbyn 32, Macclesfield 30, Woodside 24, Bremer/Callington 18, Hahndorf 12. 

Round 17 fixtures (25/2/23) - home team named first

Hahndorf v Lobethal

Langhorne Creek v Bremer/Callington

Nairne v Strathalbyn

Woodside v Macclesfield