Noarlunga are in a great position at stumps on day one of their clash with Willunga during round four action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Willunga on Saturday. Jamie Diener smashed 204 from just 92 deliveries as the Shoes declared at 4/287 in just the 34th over. Diener’s first 100 came from 49 deliveries, before upping the ante to make his second hundred off just 38 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 16 sixes. Noarlunga skipper Cam Bullard made 33, while Jason Scarff (30) added 231 runs for the third wicket with Diener. The early declaration left 36 overs in the day with Willunga slumping to 5/16, before Demons skipper Rory Hanson (30) and Damien Swan (19) added 51 for the sixth wicket. Two late wickets to the Shoes saw Willunga reach stumps at 7/72. Left-arm opening bowler Sean Williams claimed his first five-wicket haul for Noarlunga with 5/21 from 11 overs. 

McLaren Districts and Mt Compass played out an even first day of their clash at Burgess Oval on Saturday. McLaren Districts batted first and did well to reach a total of 185 before being bowled out in the 59th over. The Crushers were in trouble at 6/77 with Daniel Petrucci making 36 from 42 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as Kevin Grant joined Bailey Winter (17). Once Winter departed, Stuart Kennewell (17) and Roy Graham (17 not out) chimed in with handy contributions, but it was Grant who was the standout with 53 from 62 balls. Five Mt Compass bowlers took wickets with Bailey Baldock (4/26), Aaron Dalitz (2/23) and Robert Martin (2/33) leading the way. Mt Compass had 11 overs to bat before stumps and reached the end of the day at 1/31 with Graham (1/15) the wicket taker for the Crushers. 

Reigning premier Encounter Bay’s clash with Goolwa was evenly poised after the first day with Goolwa on 1/17 chasing the Bays first innings of 147. Encounter Bay batted first with Sam Hoffmann the mainstay of the innings with a patient 62 from 154 balls (8 x 4’s), while Chris Butler chimed in with a handy knock of 29 (35) as his side were bowled out in the 67th over. James Lawrence (3/34), Sean McIvor (2/21) and Matt Overall (2/32) were the main wicket takers for the Magpies. Goolwa opted to bat the three overs left in the day and the Bays struck a big blow as Blake Bailey (1/9) removed former Encounter Bay batsman Matt Overall (8). With a number of players unavailable next week, it will be an interesting run chase for the Magpies. 

Myponga-Sellicks had a solid opening day of their clash with Yankalilla as they posted a competitive total of 215. The good total was set up by a 105-run second wicket stand between Michael Tomlinson (53 off 94) and Sean Haverty (47 off 127), while Lachlan Quilliam (29) and Cam Turner (24) made handy contributions. Yankalilla used nine bowlers with Aaron Smith (3/39), Jimmy Hamblin (2/20) and Joel Kay (2/27) the multiple wicket takers for the Tigers. 

Ladder-leader Port Elliot are in a commanding position in their home clash with Victor Harbor as they reached 2/64 at stumps on day one, in reply to the Vipers’ first innings of 100. It was hard work for Victor Harbor batting first with only Sachin Sharma (42), Luke Harding (22) and Josh Boyko (12) reaching double figures as ‘Victor’ were bowled out in the 51st over. Veteran Port Elliot bowler Simon Donaldson rolled back the clock with the fine figures of 5/21 from 16.2 overs (8 maidens), while Liam Harris snared 3/28 (7). Ben Griffiths (26) and Jaspa Tonkin (20 not out) were the leading scorers for the Bloods, while Lachlan Hywood (1/4) and Luke Harding (1/26) were the wicket takers for Victor Harbor.