Ben Warren had a day out last Saturday at Nairne to lead Langhorne Creek to a five wicket win over the Razorbacks during round one action of the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (HCA). The home side won the toss and batted first with the returning Jarrad Tait getting the Razorbacks off to a good start with a hard-hitting 52 (56 balls). Tait and skipper Luke Timmins added 66 runs for the third wicket as Nairne progressed nicely to 2/122. Warren (3/23) then took three wickets in four balls to reduce the home side to 5/122 and the Tigers were on top. Timmins continued on to make a fine 57 (70 balls). Nick Melvin chipped in with a quickfire 23 (15 balls) before Nairne were bowled out for a competitive total of 202 in the 41st over. Troy Blackwell (3/48) was the other multiple wicket taker for Langhorne Creek. The Tigers got off to a fast start through Chris Russo (38 off 46 balls) and Adam Clements (21 off 15 balls) as they added 35 for the first wicket. Warren entered the fray at 2/67 and completely dominated the innings with his 13th century for the Creeks as he smashed his way to 101 not out from just 64 balls (6 x 4’s, 10 x 6’s). The game was still in the balance at 5/121 but Jacob Tonkin (21 not out) helped add an unbeaten 82 runs for the sixth wicket with Warren as Langhorne Creek knocked off the winning runs in the 34th over. Tait (2/33) and Chad Harrop (2/49) were the pick of the bowlers for Nairne.

Bremer-Callington won a thrilling contest at Woodside by 10 runs to get their 2020/21 season off to a perfect start. The Cobras had five players making their ‘A’ grade debuts for the club with Ajay Pandir (42), Sandeep Kumar Huda (29) and Amit Maina (21) all making handy contributions with the bat. Johhny Fitzgerald (30) and Pandir added 60 runs for the fourth wicket and at 3/115, the Cobras were eyeing off a score of around 200. Once Pandir was dismissed the visitors lost their last seven wickets for just 50 runs to be bowled out for 165 in the 40th over. Steve Ball (4/40), Chris Baschiera (3/21) and Dale Robinson (2/21) were the multiple wicket takers for Woodside. The Warriors were under pressure immediately with Will Dunstall (21) the only batsman in the top five to make double figures as the home side slipped to a precarious 5/43. Sam Pullen (42) and Baschiera (30) got the Warriors back on track with a 75-run sixth wicket stand which took them within 48 runs of victory before Pullen and Baschiera were dismissed leaving Woodside at 7/126. Shane Collins tried hard with an important 23 but it wasn’t quite enough as they were bowled out for 155 in the 44th over. Five Cobra bowlers took wickets including Brad Clements (3/25), Kumar Huda (2/25) and Maina (2/27).

Strathalbyn defeated Hahndorf by 56 runs at Hahndorf Oval in a rematch of last season’s qualifying final. The Stallions batted first and Luke Cousins and new recruit Zach Reekie added 64 for the first wicket before Reekie was dismissed for 22. Cousins was joined by skipper Mark Abbott (32) and this pair put on 84 for the second wicket as Strathalbyn got into a commanding position at 1/148. Both players were dismissed at this score with Cousins going for an excellent 80 from 109 balls and the innings stalled as the visitors were restricted to 9/197 from their 45 overs. Benny Montgomerie (3/22) and Michael Shanahan (3/29) were the multiple wicket takers for the Magpies. Hahndorf were never really in the hunt in the run chase with only Greg Hassold (40) and Shaun Tait (23) passing 20 as the reigning premiers were bowled out for 141. Matt Hein (3/23), Ben Cousins (3/24) and Brayden Gaiter (2/260 were the main destroyers for the Stallions.

Lobethal made light work of a disappointing Wistow outfit to win their round one clash by 10 wickets at Lobethal Oval. Wistow batted first and were bowled out for just 67 in the 38th over. David Kinlough (27) and skipper Dan Jenner (10) were the only Echidnas to make it to double figures. All six Lobethal bowlers took wickets with Matt Martin (2/13) and Mitch Weeks (2/15) the multiple wicket takers. The Tigers wasted no time in knocking off the runs with Weeks (40 not out) and skipper Ben Matthews (20 not out) getting to the target in just the 14th over.

Round 2 fixtures (home teams named first)

Langhorne Creek v Strathalbyn

Hahndorf v Mount Barker

Wistow v Woodside

Bremer-Callington v Woodside

Nairne has the bye