Stirling has moved up to second position on the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ladder following their comprehensive 129-run win over fellow finals aspirant Aldgate at Stirling Oval yesterday. The Eagles batted first and got off to a good start through opening pair Daniel Gonzalez and Ben Zampa as they added 76 before Zampa was dismissed for 28 (50 balls). Gonzalez continued on to top score with 60 from 64 balls (4 x 4’s, 4 x 6’s). Skipper Jack Pick (27) and Pete Fryer (26) made handy contributions before Jack Read put the finishing touches on the innings with 41 from just 19 balls (1 x 4, 4 x 6’s) as the home side amassed 6/227 from their 40 overs. Matty Hansen (2/44) was the only multiple wicket taker for Aldgate. The ‘Gaters’ were never in the run chase as they collapsed to 6/23 with Charlie Fryer (3/13), Pick (3/16) and Pete Fryer (2/13) doing most of the damage. Connor Milde with 26 (50 balls) was the only Aldgate batsman to pass 20 as the visitors were bowled out for just 98 in the 37th over.

Meadows are now within half a game of the top-four after winning their fourth game on the trot with a 91-run win at home against Bridgewater. Meadows batted first with the ‘old firm’ of Haydn Reid and Luke Tonkin putting on a huge 165-run opening stand before Tonkin was dismissed for 88 (100 balls). Reid batted through the innings to finish with 104 not out (104 balls). It was Reid’s second century of the season and 18th career  ‘ton’ for Meadows. The Bulldogs finished with an imposing 3/245 from their 40 overs. Young Bridgewater leg-spinner Finn Sullivan-Llewellyn was the only multiple wicket taker for his side with 2/61 (8). The Raiders were in early trouble as they slipped to 4/43 before skipper Justin Summerill and Rhys Jordan came together to put on 62 for the fifth wicket before Jordan went for 24 (35 balls). Summerill continued on to top score with 65 (82 balls) as his side was eventually bowled out for 154 in the 40th over. Tom Bevan-Giles (3/22), Brad Louch (3/42), Rohan Reid (2/14) and Jake Hughes (2/20) were the multiple wicket takers for Meadows. A special mention to Jake Hughes who took his first ‘A’ grade wickets yesterday. Hughes plays under 14’s for the Bulldogs and has played a number of games in the ‘A’ grade this season with his father, Anthony.

Kangarilla made the journey to Uraidla and came away with a very important three-wicket win. Uraidla batted first with Alex Heptinstall (37) and Pete Wilson (19) adding 63 runs for the first wicket. After their good start, the Demons were soon in trouble as they slipped to 5/82 with Jack Evans doing the damage with 3/25 from his eight-over spell. Israel Symington and Renzo Gaetan then came together for an excellent partnership worth 54 runs as Symington went on to top score with 41 (35 balls), while Gaetan finished with 30 not out (37 balls). Uraidla ended up with a competitive total of 7/158 from their 40 overs. Steve Featherstone (2/26) was the other multiple wicket taker for ‘Kangies’. Kangarilla got off to a reasonable start with Featherstone (20) and Che Martinsen (11) adding 30 runs for the first wicket. Regular wickets fell after the opening stand and at 5/71, Uraidla were right in the game. Ryan Smallman (13) joined Ryan Grimmond in a very important sixth-wicket partnership worth 56 runs, before Cam Venter smashed a quickfire 20 from just nine balls to take his side within sight of victory. Grimmond finished with a fine 52 not out (67 balls) as Kangarilla got home with four balls to spare. 

Reigning premier Mount Lofty earned themselves an early beverage yesterday with a crushing eight-wicket victory over Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) at Heathfield Oval. SCIB batted first and it was a batting disaster as they were rolled for just 37 in 22.3 overs. No batsman reached double figures with Ben McGowan (9) top scoring. Left-arm seamer Will Healey was the star for the Redcaps as he claimed his first ‘A’ grade five-wicket haul with 5/16 from eight overs. Adam Carthew (3/3), Aaron Smith (1/0) and Sam Furber (1/13) were the other wicket takers. Mount Lofty wasted little time in knocking off the runs in just the 12th over. The Redcaps lost Josh Healey (7) and Jordan Neis-Beer (0) to be 2/14, before Smith (15 not out) and Carthew (14 not out) got them over the line for an easy win. Beau Thomas (2/27) was the successful bowler for SCIB. 

The competition will break next weekend for the annual Meyer Shield competition with the season to resume on Saturday 29 January.

Ladder (after round 12)

Mount Lofty 54, Stirling 51, Kangarilla 51, Aldgate 48, Meadows 45, Uraidla 18, Scott Creek Ironbank 18, Bridgewater 3.

Round 13 fixture* (home team named first)

Aldgate v Mount Lofty 

Scott Creek Ironbank v Kangarilla

Uraidla v Bridgewater

Meadows v Stirling

*Saturday 29 January