Yankalilla moved up to fourth spot on the ladder after defeating Willunga outright by 59 runs during round 11 action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) at Willunga on Saturday. Willunga resumed day two on 3/47 after Yankalilla had declared their first innings closed at 3/242 on day one, and they battled their way to a total of 144 before being bowled out. Eddie Last (32) and Rory Hanson (31) were the leading scorers for the Demons. Will Hogben (2/0), Chris Clark (2/25) and Aaron Smith (2/32) were the leading wicket takers for the Tigers. Yankalilla went back into bat for just five overs and they made 3/31 before declaring for the second time in the game, leaving Willunga 30 overs to make 130 for their first victory of the season. It wasn’t to be as Yankalilla bowled the hosts out for just 70 to take the 10 points for an outright victory. Daniel Hockham battled hard for Willunga with 24 (53 balls), while opening bowlers Trent Starke (4/20) and Ryan Borlace (4/30) did all the damage for Yankalilla. 

Goolwa were also on the hunt for outright points in their clash with Victor Harbor, but ultimately they came up short by just two wickets as ‘Victor’ finished their second innings on 8/87, still 26 runs short of making Goolwa bat a second time. Kenny Sumner (33 not out) and Luke Harding (27) were the mainstays of the Vipers second dig, while Matt Overall (3/21) and Sean McIvor (3/22) were the best of the Magpies bowlers. Earlier, Victor Harbor resumed their first innings at 2/44 in reply to Goolwa’s day one score of 4/188 declared and were bowled out for just 75 with Josh Jones the best of the Goolwa bowlers with 4/18 (15). Jones was well supported by Dean Vickery (3/8) and James Lawrence (2/20).

Myponga-Sellicks consolidated their spot in the top-six after a comfortable 118-run win against McLaren Districts at Myponga. McLaren Districts were chasing the Mudlarks’ day one total of 264 and they got off to an excellent start as opening pair Stuart Kennewell (48) and Stephen Nairn (40) put on 91 runs for the first wicket. That was as good as it got for the Crushers as they lost 10/55 to be bowled out for 146 in the 57th over. Vinnie Nizzola bowled a marathon 26 overs and snared 4/50, while Jackson Lee took 4/34 from 12 overs. 

Encounter Bay won their seventh game of the season after defeating Port Elliot by four wickets at Port Elliot on Saturday. Port Elliot made 170 on day one and Encounter Bay’s run chase started badly as they slipped to 2/7 early on. Chris Butler opened the batting and played a fine hand of 41 (48 balls), while Zane Garrett (26) and Blake Bailey (21) made handy contributions, but at 6/112, the game was well and truly in the balance. Veteran Luke Crichton joined youngster Kieran Garrett and this pair saw their side to safety through an unbroken 59-run seventh wicket stand. Garrett finished with 22 not out (58 balls), while Crichton made 38 not out (37 balls). The ever-reliable Simon Donaldson was the pick of the Bloods bowlers with 3/45 (18.3). 

Noarlunga won their 10th game of the season after defeating a gallant Mt Compass by 61 runs at Old Noarlunga. The Shoes made 264 on day one and Mt Compass were in early trouble on Saturday at 2/23 as Lochie Nash joined Josh Murfitt. This pair put on 60 runs for the third wicket before Nash departed for 35 (72 balls), while Murfitt continued on to make his second century in the past two seasons. Murfitt finished with 107 from 113 balls (11 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s) as Mt Compass were bowled out for 203 in the 59th over. Jacob Banks continued his fine debut season at the Shoes with 5/73 (16), while Sean Williams took 4/48 from 16.4 overs. 

Ladder (after round 11)

Noarlunga 64, Goolwa 54, Port Elliot 52, Yankalilla 43, Encounter Bay 42, Myponga-Sellicks 34, McLaren Districts 28, Mt Compass 27, Victor Harbor 6, Willunga 0.

Round 12 (22/2/25 & 1/3/25 - 2 day games)

Mt Compass v Port Elliot

Encounter Bay v Willunga

Goolwa v Myponga-Sellicks

Yankalilla v Noarlunga

McLaren Districts v Victor Harbor