Strathalbyn has continued their perfect start to the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association season with a comprehensive home win over Mount Barker on Saturday. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first and got off to a good start with Chris Pulford (40) and skipper Jackson Lane (24) adding 72 for the first wicket. Unfortunately for the Kookaburras, they lost three wickets with the score still on 72 before Wayne Buckland (31 from 37 balls) got them going again before another collapse ensued where Mount Barker lost six wickets for just seven runs to put the visitors under pressure before eventually finishing their 45 overs at 9/138. Stallions skipper Mark Abbott snared 3/24 and he was ably supported by Matt Abbott (2/19) and Danny Horan (2/23). Strathalbyn wasted no time in knocking off the required target, winning with 10 wickets in hand in the 20th over. Luke Cousins scorched an unbeaten 85 off just 59 balls with his opening partner, Nathan Pelle, scoring 43 not out as the Stallions maintained their top position on the ‘A’ Grade ladder.

Hahndorf also kept their perfect record intact after defeating Woodside by eight wickets at Hahndorf Oval. Woodside won the toss and were in immediate trouble, crashing to 6/37 before eventually being bowled out for just 74 in the 37th over. Benny Montgomerie (3/9), Jarrad Tait (3/18) and Caleb Blesing (2/15) did the damage for the Magpies with the ball. Hahndorf were untroubled in reaching the victory target for the loss of just two wickets in the 16th over with Andrew Baker continuing his consistent start to the season top scoring with 41 (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Chris Baschiera claimed 2/21 for Woodside.

Nairne claimed their first win of 2019/20 with a hard fought 43-run victory over Bremer-Callington at Nairne Oval. The home side won the toss and elected to bat and put up a strong total of 6/232 from their 45 overs. It was a very even performance from the Razorbacks batsmen with five players scoring 27 runs or more including Richard Boscence (51), Sam Rowe (45) and Robert Crook (35). Mitchell Crisp was the only multiple wicket taker for the Cobras with 2/51. Bremer-Callington started their run chase in solid fashion with Stewart Leigh (24) and Arsalan Eubaid putting on 42 for the first wicket. Captain Johnny Fitzgerald came in at the fall of the second wicket and played an excellent attacking innings as he smashed 74 from just 65 balls to get his side to 3/147. Once Fitzgerald was dismissed, the Cobras lost their last 7/47 to be knocked over for 189. Sam Rowe (3/19), Chad Harrop (3/46) and Duncan Rogers (2/18) were the main wicket takers for Nairne.

Langhorne Creek hosted Wistow with the reigning premier looking for a second consecutive victory while Wistow were looking for their first win of the 2019/20 campaign. The home side won the toss and decided to bat and after losing Daniel Cleggett early to be 1/17, captain Matt Tonkin and opening batsman Nathan Wundersitz set about putting a sizeable target on the board as the pair put on 81 for the second wicket before Wundersitz was dismissed for 46. Tonkin was joined by Ben Warren (23) and they added 44 for the third wicket before Tonkin departed for 50 from 63 balls. A few quick wickets had the Echidnas back in the game before Brayden Frost made his first ‘A’ grade half century for the Tigers with a hard hitting 52 from just 43 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6) before unfortunately being run out. Langhorne Creek eventually finished on 9/233 from their 45 overs. Teenager Finley Walsh was the standout for Wistow with the ball taking 3/30 (9). Wistow’s run chase never gathered any momentum as the young side battled against a tight Langhorne Creek bowling unit. Only skipper Daniel Jenner (53) and Daniel Hughes (21) showed any real resistance in the top order while Walsh smashed a quick fire 24 from just 12 balls to provide some entertainment towards the end of the innings. Matt Tonkin with 3/14 (7) was the leading wicket taker for the Tigers while Warren was very tight finishing with figures of 1/14 (9).

Round 4 (2/11/19) fixtures (home sides named first)…..

Hahndorf v Wistow

Woodside v Bremer-Callington

Strathalbyn v Lobethal

Langhorne Creek v Nairne

Mount Barker has the bye