Uraidla celebrated their return to ‘A’ grade ranks in the Hills Cricket Association (HCA) with an upset 54-run win over Meadows in round one action at Uraidla Oval. The Demons spent last season in the A2 competition and had four players making their ‘A’ grade debut in Mitch Makings, Mitch Ireland, George Bond and Ben Padfield. Meadows won the toss and sent the home side in and Uraidla got off to a solid start with Alex Heptinstall (22) and Ben Sheppard (20) adding 33 for the first wicket. Makings made a handy 18 on debut but at 4/80, the innings could have gone either way. The experienced Ryan Hunter (18) joined skipper Simon Parker and this pair put on an important 46 runs for the fifth wicket before Renzo Gaetan (12 not out) and Parker added an undefeated 37 runs for the sixth wicket to lift Uraidla to 5/163 at the end of their 40 overs. Parker played an excellent innings to finish with 49 not out (49 balls). Max Buckley was the only multiple wicket taker for Meadows with 2/40 from his eight overs. Uraidla opened the bowling with Bond (2/5) and Parker (1/18) and they gained early success as debutant Bond removed Lachlan Paterson (2) followed by the prized wicket of Rohan Reid (2) to leave the Bulldogs reeling at 2/17. Worse was to follow as Meadows slipped to 4/27. A comeback mission was mounted by veterans Haydn Reid (34) and Chad Dawe (17) as they added 39 for the fifth wicket but once they were dismissed, the end came quickly as Meadows were bowled out for just 109 in the 32^nd over. Gaetan (3/18) and Thomas Bassett (2/16) were the other multiple wicket takers.

Aldgate got their 2020/21 campaign off to a winning start with a convincing 111-run win at Cherry Gardens against Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB). Aldgate batted first and got off to a fantastic start as Mitch Thomas and Josh Callaghan added 151 for the opening wicket. Callaghan played the sheet anchor role with 40 from 91 balls, leaving the way open for Thomas to make his first century with an excellent 113 from 118 balls (14 x 4’s, 2 x 6’s). Thomas punished the loose balls and played some excellent straight and cover drives. He was almost run out on 99 after a mix up with skipper Jake Turnbull which saw them both stuck in the middle of the pitch, but a fielding error saw Thomas home safe to register his ton. Aldgate finished with a daunting total of 5/213 from their 40 overs. Veteran Andy Adams was the standout bowler for SCIB as he took 1/25 from his eight overs. Scott Creek Ironbank were never in the run chase as Aldgate shared the wickets around. Darcy Campbell (27), Ethan Dinning (20) and Adams (18) were best with the bat for SCIB. Matty Hansen (4/17) took up from where he left off last season when he won the A1 bowling trophy. Hansen was well supported by new recruit Jack Woollard (2/18) and 14 year old debutant Thomas McCourt (2/28), as the home side fell for 102 in the 34^th over.

Flagstaff Hill caused another round one upset by defeating Stirling at Flagstaff Hill. The home side batted first and battled their way to a competitive total of 9/154 from their 40 overs thanks to some handy contributions from Stephen Wheatland (31), Angus Heaton (26) and Oliver Styles (23). Wheatland and Styles came together with the Falcons in strife at 5/77 and put on a pivotal 47 runs for the sixth wicket. Ned Hopgood (4/24) and Jacob Kemp (3/24) were the stars with the ball for Stirling. The visitors innings started disastrously as they slumped to 3/5 and it never really recovered as they bowled out for a paltry total of just 92 from 31 overs. Pete Fryer, batting at number nine, was the only Eagle to pass 20 as he finished on 28 not out. James Patterson (3/16), Max Renfrey (2/17) and Jack Walton (2/22) were multiple wicket takers for the Falcons who gave new skipper Jacob Lemon the perfect start to his tenure.

In the tightest match of the round, Mount Lofty ground out an impressive three wicket win over Kangarilla at Heathfield Oval. Kangies were the big improvers last season as they finished in the top four for the first time since moving to the HCA back in the 2014/15 season while the Redcaps finished fifth last season. Kangarilla batted first and their innings was held together by opening batsman Steve Featherstone who made a patient 73 from 99 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6). No other batsman in the top seven managed more than 10 and at 6/100, things looked bad for the visitors. Brodie May (33) joined Featherstone and this pair lifted the score to 6/162 and a total of close to 200 looked possible. Enter Max Hawke who claimed the last four wickets to finish with the incredible figures of 6/10 (5.5). It was Hawke’s first ever five-wicket haul as Kangarilla were bowled out for 166 in the 38^th over. Mount Lofty started well with James Kittel-Neill and new recruit Jono Coat (12) adding 34 for the first wicket before skipper Jordan Neis-Beer joined Kittel-Neill in a 68-run second wicket partnership which saw Lofty reach 1/102 and seemingly into a winnable position. Kittel-Neill was dismissed for a fine 50 (64 balls) followed by Neis-Beer for 35 and all of a sudden the Redcaps lost 6/35 to be in trouble at 7/137. Aaron Smith (34 not out) was still there and holding the innings together and he got an ally in veteran Dave Bennett (11 not out) and these two lifted their team over the line in the 39^th over. Cole Davy (2/23) and Featherstone (2/30) were the multiple wicket takers for Kangarilla.