Stirling made a strong start to their premiership defence with a comfortable eight-wicket win at Kangarilla during round one action in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) yesterday. Kangarilla batted first and got themselves into a good position at 1/71 with Ryan Grimmond (34) and Lachlan Knight (31) adding 67 runs for the second wicket. Stirling were keeping it tight and turned the game in their favour by taking the last nine Kangarilla wickets for just 33 runs as the hosts were bowled out for 104. Jacob Kemp was the unlikely destroyer for the Eagles with 4/8 (4), while Chris Shaw (2/17) and Jack Pick (2/20) were the other multiple wicket takers. Stirling were relatively untroubled in the run chase as Jack Read (41), Kemp (23 not out) and Pick (18 not out) knocked the runs off with 12 overs to spare. Baxter Knuckey (1/16) and Grimmond (1/20) were the wicket takers for ‘Kangies’. 

Aldgate got their 2023/24 campaign off to a winning start with a five-wicket win at home against Meadows. Meadows batted first and at one stage were 1/88 with Luke Tonkin (32), Brad Dawe (29) and Rohan Reid (25) making handy contributions. Enter Frank Clements (4/38) and Henry Brasher (3/33), who combined to take the next seven wickets for just 37 runs as the visitors slipped to 8/125. Some good late hitting from Callan Blackwell (33 not out off 33 balls) lifted Meadows to a total of 171. Jack Woollard made a good comeback from injury for the ‘Gaters’ with the excellent figures of 2/12 (9). Josh Callaghan (37) and Mitch Thomas (18) got Aldgate off to a good start with an opening stand of 62, before three quick wickets saw Aldgate in a bit of trouble at 3/82. Max Bilsborow (19 not out) joined Clements at the crease and this pair put on 49 for the fifth wicket before Clements went for a typically hard-hitting 57 from 42 balls. Clements’ innings included four boundaries and five ‘maximums’, with Aldgate eventually passing the total with 10 overs to spare. Veteran Chad Dawe was clearly the best of the Meadows bowlers with the fine figures of 3/16 from eight overs.

Mount Lofty defeated Mylor by four wickets in a thrilling round one encounter at Heathfield yesterday. The game was delayed by rain and reduced to 35 overs per side with Mylor batting first. The Pipers posted a very competitive total of 6/187 with Nic Wilson (60 off 84 balls), Tom Plant (27 off 51) and Liam Tansell (20 off 9) the leading scorers. Brad Hutton was the pick of the Redcaps bowlers with 5/31 (7), while Zef Wood claimed 2/33. The Mount Lofty run chase was underpinned by a fine innings of 75 not out (85 balls) from Redcaps skipper Jordan Neis-Beer. He was ably supported by Peter Giannes (28) and Wood (25), while Jack Miller hit the winning boundary with five balls to spare. Matthew Steadman (2/31) and Oliver Barnes (2/37) were the multiple wicket takers for Mylor.

Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) made an excellent start to the season with a four-wicket win against Bridgewater at Cherry Gardens. The Raiders batted first and they never really got going as they were bowled out for just 127 in the 28th over. Jackson Hooper (21) was the only batsman to pass 20. Suresh Sripada (4/31), Daniel Desengo (3/32) and Daniel Key (2/21) were the main destroyers for SCIB. Key (25) and Adam Shearwood (12) added 35 runs for the second wicket as SCIB appeared to be cruising at 1/46 before a collapse of 4/18 saw the home side in strife at 5/64. Darcy Campbell made a handy 13 (19 balls) and then Desengo (11 not out) joined Aaron Thompson to add 41 runs for the seventh wicket to get their side over the line in the 35th over. Thompson was the undoubted star of the innings for SCIB with 52 not out from 59 balls (4 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Caleb Risson (3/29) and Finlay Sullivan-Llewellyn (2/36) were the leading wicket takers for Bridgewater. 

Ladder (after round 1)

Aldgate 6, Scott Creek Ironbank 6, Stirling 6, Mount Lofty 6, Mylor 0, Kangarilla 0, Bridgewater 0, Meadows 0.

Round 2 fixtures (home teams named first)

Scott Creek Ironbank v Bridgewater

Aldgate v Meadows

Mount Lofty v Mylor

Kangarilla v Stirling