The match between Encounter Bay and Goolwa is up for grabs after day one of their round four clash at Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) yesterday. Encounter Bay skipper Blake Bailey won the toss and decided to bat first but his side were soon in all sorts of strife as they slumped to 4/26. Cam Lintern was playing a lone hand for the Bays as he top scored with 43 not out. Only three other batsmen made it to double figures as the home side were bowled out for just 96 off 44 overs. Jayden Crees was the standout for Goolwa as he bowled 22 overs on the trot to finish with the excellent figures of 6/44. It was Crees’ ninth five-wicket haul for the Magpies. Josh Jones (2/26) and James Lawrence (1/23) were the other wicket takers for the visitors. In reply, Goolwa finished the day at a shaky 6/71, still needing 26 runs for their third victory of the season. Jones top scored with 35, while Bailey was the destroyer for the Bays as he took 5/28 from 13 overs. It was Bailey’s first five-wicket haul in ‘A’ grade ranks. 

Willunga skipper Luke Harding continued his excellent start to the season as he led his side to 8/255 at stumps on day one of their game at Port Elliot. Harding made 76 from 127 balls (15 x 4’s) and added 108 for the first wicket with Joel Docking (40 from 106 balls). Harding has scored 213 runs at an average of 53.25 so far in 2021/22. There were handy contributions throughout the Willunga batting order with Simon Roberts (40), Scott Brown (31 not out), Luke Goldner (27) and Rhys Allard (20) all helping the Demons to their excellent first innings total. Roberts and Goldner put on the second best partnership of the innings, combining for 62 runs for the fourth wicket. Port Elliot battled hard as they used eight bowlers for the 70 overs with four of them taking wickets. Scott Hannam claimed the best figures for the Bloods with 4/42 from 11 overs.

Noarlunga hosted McLaren Districts at Old Noarlunga in a must-win game for both clubs. Shoes skipper Jason Scarff won the toss and decided to bat first and after losing opening batsman Mason Parry (3) early, the home side steadied with David Scarff (11) and Cam Bullard (41) adding 44 runs for the second wicket before both were run-out. At 3/63 the game was evenly balanced as Jason Scarff joined Anthony Burgess in a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket before Scarff went for 37 from 87 balls (3 x 4’s). Burgess continued on to his highest score of the season with 75 from 129 balls (8 x 4’s). At 4/171, a score in excess of 250 looked on the cards, but the Crushers fought back well to take the last six wickets for 46 runs as Noarlunga were bowled out in the 69th over for 217. Four McLaren Districts bowlers took wickets with Jett Holberton claiming 4/70 (19.5) and Jacob Banks 2/40 (12).