Woodside moved up to second spot on the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ladder following their 33-run win at home against Bremer/Callington. The Warriors batted first and posted a competitive total of 7/192 from their 45 overs. Brad Collins (45), Will Dunstall (36) and Dave Wecombe (34) were the main contributors for the home side. Graydon Brand (2/38) and Amit Maina (2/40) were the leading wicket takers for the Cobras. The visitors were in all sorts of trouble in the run chase as they slipped to a precarious 5/53 with opening bowler Charlie McDonough doing most of the damage with his spell of 3/30 (9). Cobras Skipper Jai McMurtrie was holding the innings together and he received solid support from Dion Rehn (15) and Johnny Fitzgerald (20) but it wasn’t enough as they were bowled out in the 43rd over for 159. McMurtrie finished with 59 not out (86 balls). Steve Ball (2/20) and Jeremy Druwitt (2/39) were the other multiple wicket takers for Woodside. 

Strathalbyn kept pace with the top-four after their six-wicket win at Macclesfield on Saturday. ‘Maccy’ batted first but were under early pressure as they fell to 5/45. Joe Lions (37) and Josh Lewis-Burns (35) got the innings back on track with a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Once this pair was split however, the Redbacks lost their last 5/22 to be bundled out for 123 in the 44th over. Matt Abbott (3/23), Ben Cousins (3/32) and Tim Dellatorre (2/11) were the chief destroyers for the Stallions. Macclesfield got off to a good start with the ball as ‘Strath’ slipped to 4/50 and an upset was a distinct possibility. Cousins Mark and Matt Abbott were having none of it as they got together to add an unbroken 74 runs for the fifth wicket to see their side home in the 36th over. Mark finished on 46 not out (87 balls) while Matt completed a fine all-round game with 35 not out (50 balls). Connor Moore bowled a fine opening spell for the Redbacks to capture 2/16 from nine overs. 

Langhorne Creek won their second game in a row to keep themselves in the hunt for the double chance after a comfortable 66-run win at Hahndorf. The Tigers had plenty of contributors with Shannon Jones (59), Joel Cross (58 not out), Dan Kropp (47) and James Dawson (25) leading the ‘Creeks’ to a healthy total of 4/227 from their 45 overs. Henry Hassold (1/30), Lachlan Huxtable (1/35) and Ryan Trafford-Walker (1/48) were the wicket takers for the Magpies. Greg Hassold and Huxtable got Hahndorf off to a good start with a 51-run opening stand before Huxtable was dismissed for 22 (40 balls). Hassold went on to top score with 57 from 75 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6) but he didn’t get much help, apart from Harry Knappstein who scored 21 from 32 balls, from the rest of the batting order as Hahndorf were bowled out for 161 in the 42nd over. Four Langhorne Creek bowlers took wickets with skipper Dan Cleggett the standout with 4/32 from his nine overs. 

Nairne got back on the winners list with a low-scoring 26-run win at Lobethal in the Grand Final rematch from last season. Lobethal won the toss and sent Nairne into bat and it was tough going with a slow outfield for the Razorbacks as they struggled their way to 114 before being bowled out in the 44th over. Robert Crook (22) was the only Nairne batsman to reach 20 as the Lobethal bowlers were dominant. Matt Martin (2/7), Dave Huxter (2/8), Lachlan Elsworthy (2/17) and James Elliott (2/25) were the multiple wicket takers for the Tigers. Lobethal started disastrously in their run chase as they were soon 4/17 with the Razorbacks opening bowlers Brodie Clarke (3/17) and Mitch Hein (3/18) doing the damage. Lachlan Bates (26) was the only Tigers batsman to reach 20 as the home side was rolled for just 88 in the 39th over. 

Ladder (after round 13)

Nairne 44, Woodside 32, Langhorne Creek 32, Lobethal 32, Strathalbyn 28, Hahndorf 16, Bremer/Callington 12, Macclesfield 12.

Round 14 fixture (home team named first)

Hahndorf v Woodside

Macclesfield v Langhorne Creek

Lobethal v Strathalbyn

Bremer/Callington v Nairne