Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) pulled off an upset nine-wicket win against Aldgate yesterday, and in the process won their first game in A1 ranks of the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) since January 2018. Aldgate skipper Jake Turnbull won the toss and decided to bat first at Cherry Gardens. It was tough going for the visitors early on with opening bowlers Daniel Desengo (2/21) and Aaron Thompson (1/16) keeping things tight to have Aldgate struggling at 2/25. Mitch Thomas and Luke Smet came together for a 53-run partnership, the best of the innings, to put the ‘Gaters’ innings back on track. Thomas made 42 from 64 balls (3 x 4’s, 1 x 6), while Smet continued on to bring up his second half century of the season as he top scored with 75 from 84 balls (7 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Daniel Key (3/40) was the leading wicket taker for SCIB as Aldgate finished their 40 overs on 8/169. SCIB wasted no time getting into the task of chasing down the target with the opening pair of Adam Shearwood and new recruit Devin Payne putting on 146 runs for the first wicket before Payne was dismissed for 62 from 73 balls (7 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). Payne formerly played at the Modbury Cricket Club in the Adelaide Turf competition, where he has scored over 1,000 runs in the past two seasons. Shearwood continued on to score 78 not out from 99 balls (10 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the winning runs were knocked off in the 31st over. Shearwood now has 209 runs for the season at the fantastic average of 209.00! Turnbull (1/34) was the sole wicket taker for Aldgate.

Stirling moved to the top of the HCA ladder and are the only undefeated team through four rounds following their 37-run victory at Bridgewater yesterday. Stirling skipper Jack Pick won the toss and decided to bat first but his team was soon under the pump as they slipped to 2/7 with Daniel Gonzalez (4) and Jacob Kemp (0) both removed by opening bowler Rhys Jordan. It was left to Pick and new recruit Matthew Frith to get the innings back on track as they added 46 runs for the third wicket before Pick was run out for 20. Frith has played first grade cricket in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney so is a huge pick up for Stirling. Former Monarto all-rounder Harrison Webb joined Frith and the two new Eagles put together an innings-defining partnership worth 63 runs for the fourth wicket before Webb went for 23. Frith continued on to make a fine 89 from 94 balls (5 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), while Ned Hopgood (20 not out from 12 balls), played a nice cameo at the end of the innings to see Stirling post a very competitive total of 9/179 from their 40 overs. Jordan was a shining light for the Raiders with the ball as he finished with the fine figures of 4/18 (8). Once again Bridgewater got off to a good start through veterans Justin Summerill (16) and Luke Hoyle (44) who put on 58 for the first wicket. Unfortunately for the Raiders, no other batsman could pass 20 as they finished their innings on 8/142. Pick (2/13), Charlie Fryer (2/16) and Kosta Sinodinos (2/27) were the multiple wicket takers for the high-flying Eagles. 

Reigning premier Mount Lofty got themselves back on the winners list with a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Kangarilla at Heathfield Oval. Kangarilla batted first and struggled their way to 8/133 from their 40 overs. Skipper Che Martinsen and all-rounder Steve Featherstone opened the batting and put up a 46-run stand before Featherstone was dismissed for 23. Martinsen went on to top score with 45 (76 balls) but sadly for ‘Kangies’, no other batsman could pass 20. Aaron Smith was the star with the ball for the Redcaps as he snared 4/10 from six miserly overs. Adam Carthew (2/19) was the other multiple wicket taker for Mount Lofty. The Redcaps lost James Kittel-Neill (3) early before Josh Healey and skipper Jordan Neis-Beer (25) came together to add 88 runs for the second wicket. Healey continued his excellent start to the season as he smashed 82 from 78 balls (8 x 4’s, 5 x 6’s), with the winning runs coming up with more than 10 overs to spare. Healey now has 206 runs at an average of 103.00 this season. Featherstone took 2/38 (8), while Che Martinsen bowled an excellent spell to finish with 1/8 (8). 

Meadows won their second game of the season with a comfortable six-wicket home win over Uraidla to bring the Bulldogs within half a game of the top-four. Uraidla batted first and were well served by opening batsman Alex Heptinstall who made 39 from 71 balls (7 x 4’s). Fellow opener Dylan Brown (19) and Simon Parker (15) both made starts but couldn’t go on with it as the Meadows bowlers kept things tight through Tom Bevan-Giles (1/16) and Chad Dawe (2/21). Some lusty hitting at the end of the innings from Tom Bassett (27 not out from 20 balls) lifted Uraidla to 8/143 from their 40 overs. Anthony Hughes was the chief wicket taker for the Bulldogs with 4/41 (8). Hughes was moved up the order to open with Haydn Reid but he went early to see Meadows at 1/2. Skipper Rohan Reid made a quickfire 21 from 16 balls, but when he was dismissed, the home side were 2/25 and Uraidla had a bit of a sniff. Young ‘keeper Oscar Tydeman joined the experienced H.Reid and this pair added 54 runs for the third wicket before Tydeman was dismissed for 21. Dawe came and went quickly as Brad Louch joined H.Reid to put on an unbroken 40-run stand for the fifth wicket to see Meadows home in the 36th over. H.Reid went on to score 67 not out from 117 balls (9 x 4’s), while Louch contributed a mature 10 not out (20 balls). Teenager Mitch Makings (2/28) and Simon Parker (2/41) were the multiple wicket takers for the Demons.

Ladder (after round 4)

Stirling 21, Mount Lofty 18, Aldgate 18, Kangarilla 15, Meadows 12, Scott Creek Ironbank 6, Uraidla 6, Bridgewater 0.

Round 5 fixture (home team named first)

Aldgate v Stirling

Scott Creek Ironbank v Mount Lofty

Kangarilla v Uraidla

Bridgewater v Meadows