Lobethal won their fourth Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ‘A’ grade premiership in a row after defeating Hahndorf by 21 runs in a high-scoring decider at Hahndorf Oval yesterday. Lobethal won the toss and decided to bat first with skipper Mitch Weeks and Tanner King adding 92 runs for the first wicket before King departed for 34 (29 balls). Weeks went on to top score with 65 from 49 balls (7 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), as the Tigers reached the drinks break in a strong position at 3/126. Hahndorf battled hard to get back into the game with Michael Shanhan (2/35) and Ryan Trafford-Walker (2/40) taking two wickets each, but a 75-run sixth wicket stand between Jeremy Hackett and Matt Martin put Lobethal back on top. Martin made 32 (26 balls), while Hackett finished with 57 not out (59 balls). Some late hitting from Steve Huxter, who smacked 25 from 16 balls, lifted the Tigers to an imposing 8/263 from their 45 overs. Lachlan Huxtable (2/24) was the other multiple wicket taker for the Magpies. 

It was a daunting task for Hahndorf, however they started well with Paul Allegretto and Sam Williams adding 62 for the first wicket before Allegretto departed for 23 (29 balls). Magpies skipper Dan Jenner then joined Williams and this pair lifted the score to 1/119 as the home side started to believe. King was brought into the attack and the change reaped immediate dividends with King dismissing the dangerous Williams for 62 from 63 balls (6 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). Jenner continued on to make 59 (75 balls), but at 7/186 all seemed lost for the Magpies. Trafford-Walker had other ideas as he smashed a quickfire 32 from 23 balls (3 x 6’s), but when he was dismissed in the 44th over, the game was up as the Magpies were bowled out for 242. Sam Graeber was the standout bowler for Lobethal with figures of 6/37 from nine overs to claim man-of-the-match honours. 

Lobethal are once again the kings of the AEHCA with their fourth consecutive premiership, as well as winning the A2 premiership, while Hahndorf, who only won five games last season, can hold their heads high after making the Grand Final.