Mount Lofty kept their minor premiership hopes alive with a comfortable six-wicket win against Stirling at Heathfield Oval yesterday in round 17 of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA). Mount Lofty take on Meadows in the final round next Saturday with the winner to get the coveted ‘double chance’ semi-final at home. Yesterday at Heathfield, Stirling batted first and it was tough going as the Eagles were bowled out in the 39th over for 139. Pete Fryer top scored with 40 from 43 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6) and he was supported by Daniel Gonzalez (19) and Myles Collins (19). Five Redcaps bowlers took wickets with Adam Carthew (2/15), Peter Giannes (2/21) and Dave Bennett (2/32) leading the way. Mount Lofty got off to a steady start as the opening pair of Josh Healey and Adam Carthew put on 38 runs for the first wicket in 12 overs before Carthew was removed for 13 (31 balls). Healey was joined by his skipper Jordan Neis-Beer and this pair set after the target with a 47-run stand until Healey went for 49 (69 balls). Neis-Beer continued on to score 34 not out (80 balls) and he got solid support from Aaron Smith (16) and veteran Leith Dawes (16 not out) as the winning runs came up in the 38th over. Charlie Fryer (1/15), Kosta Sinodinos (1/18), Dan Parfitt (1/23) and Jack Read (1/25) were the wicket takers for Stirling.

Aldgate kept themselves in the running for the double chance with a five-wicket win over Bridgewater at Aldgate Oval. The Raiders won the toss and decided to bat first and they were in all sorts of trouble as they slumped to 8/68 with Jackson Hooper (26) the only top order batsman to reach 20. Caleb Risson (23) and Finn Sullivan-Llewellyn then joined forces in a face-saving 44-run stand for the ninth wicket before Sullivan-Llewellyn added a further 42 runs for the 10th wicket with Nathan Sachse (12 not out) as Bridgewater reached 154. Sullivan-Llewellyn went on to top score with 34 from 54 balls (5 x 4’s). Jake Turnbull was the pick of the Aldgate bowlers with 3/17 (8) and he was well supported by Frank Clements (2/21), Matty Hansen (2/24) and Luke Smet (2/38). Aldgate were relatively untroubled in the run chase as Josh Callaghan (45), Will Quigley-Smith (45), Smet (20) and Connor Milde (20 not out) all contributed to the innings as the winning runs were brought up in the 39th over. Justin Summerill (2/21), Sullivan-Llewellyn (2/24) and Anthony Jennings (1/28) were the wicket takers for the Raiders.

Kangarilla won their ninth game of the season with a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Kangarilla. SCIB won the toss and batted first but were soon reeling at 3/8. Daniel Desengo (14) and Conor Lidstone (10) tried to resurrect the innings but wickets continued to fall as the score was 6/35 when Ben McGowan entered the fray. He smashed a quickfire 32 from 29 balls (1 x 4, 2 x 6’s) but ultimately SCIB were bowled out for just 71 in the 32nd over. Five bowlers took wickets for ‘Kangies’ with Che Martinsen (3/7), Steve Featherstone (3/20) and Ryan Grimmond (2/12) leading the way. Kangarilla wasted no time in knocking off the victory target in the 18th over for the loss of just two wickets as Martinsen (40 not out) and Featherstone (19 not out) added 36 for the third wicket. McGowan continued his good day with 2/29 from seven overs. 

Meadows retained top spot on the HCA ladder with their ninth win in a row, this time by six wickets against Uraidla at Meadows. Uraidla batted first and was bowled out for just 88 in the 37th over. All six Bulldogs bowlers took wickets with Anthony Hughes (2/6), Tom Bevan-Giles (2/12), Will Bevan-Giles (2/16) and Brad Louch (2/19) the chief wicket takers. Meadows were in early trouble as they slipped to 4/27 and the Demons could sense a monumental upset. However, Uraidla’s hopes were dashed as Max Buckley and Marko Kovac combined for an unbroken fifth-wicket stand worth 65 runs. Buckley top scored with 46 not out, while Kovac finished on 18 not out. 

Ladder (after round 17)

Meadows 75, Mount Lofty 72, Aldgate 72, Stirling 69, Kangarilla 57, Uraidla 24, Scott Creek Ironbank 24, Bridgewater 15.

Round 18 fixture (home team named first)

Mount Lofty v Meadows

Kangarilla v Aldgate

Stirling v Uraidla

Bridgewater v Scott Creek Ironbank