Woodside claimed the big scalp of reigning premier Nairne during round one action in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) on Saturday. New Woodside skipper Shane Collins won the toss and elected to bat first and veteran opener Dave Wescombe got his side off to a good start with a typically aggressive 44 from 54 balls (6 x 4’s). The game was very even with the home side sitting precariously at 4/88 before Sam Pullen played an innings-defining knock of 46 from 49 balls. Pullen’s innings included one boundary and four ‘maximums’ as Woodside finished with a competitive total of 7/178 from their 45 overs. Jarrad Tait (2/29) and Chad Harrop (2/41) were the multiple wicket takers for Nairne. The reigning premiers run chase started in disastrous fashion with Tait out first ball and Zac Llewellyn dismissed for five. Mitch Hein (24) and Robert Crook (18) got the innings somewhat back on track and Shane Kenney supplied some late fireworks with a hard hitting 45 from just 37 balls. Kenney’s innings included three boundaries and three sixes but it wasn’t enough as Nairne were rolled for 116 in the 32nd over. All five Woodside bowlers claimed wickets with Shane Collins (4/20) and Steve Ball (3/27) the main destroyers. 

2021/22 runner-up Lobethal started their season with a tough 17-run win against Bremer/Callington on the new turf wicket at Callington. New skipper Mitch Weeks won the toss for Lobethal and decided to bat first and he certainly led from the front. No Tigers batsman could pass 20 except for Weeks who carried his bat through the 45-over innings to finish on 84 not out from 134 balls (5 x 4’s). Weeks’ innings set Lobethal up for a competitive total of 7/150. Nathan Fitzgerald (2/23) and Amit Maina (2/24) were the leading bowlers for the Cobras. The home sides run chase started disastrously with both Ajay Pundir and Graydon Brand dismissed by Matt Martin (3/22) without scoring to see the Cobras sitting at a precarious 2/0. Michael Kudra (41 from 61 balls) and Sandeep Huda (31 from 42 balls) got the Cobras right back in the game as they reached 4/98 but after they were both dismissed, Bremer/Callington lost their last 6/35 to be bowled out in the 43rd over for 133. Mitch Weeks (2/13) and Will Zadow (2/22) were the other multiple wicket takers for Lobethal.

Langhorne Creek and Strathalbyn played out a high scoring round one game at Langhorne Creek with the home side coming out on top by 39 runs. The ‘Creeks’ batted first and their big total of 5/259 was set up by three good partnerships at the top. New skipper Daniel Cleggett (27) and Daniel Kropp (60) opened with a 74-run stand before Ben Warren joined Kropp to add 64 runs for the second wicket. Adam Clements (38 from 37 balls) then joined Warren in an 83-run third wicket partnership before Warren was dismissed for a fine 95 from 72 balls (8 x 4’s, 1 x 6). Danny Horan (2/52) and Ben Cousins (2/68) were the multiple wicket takers for the Stallions, while Matt Abbott was clearly their most economical bowler with 0/23 (7). Strathalbyn got off to a solid start with Luke Cousins (24), Matthew Harris (29) and Steve Schofield (21) all getting starts but as the required run rate crept up, regular wickets kept falling despite a rearguard action from Matt Abbott who made 56 from 58 balls with four boundaries. Six Langhorne Creek bowlers took wickets with debutant Jens Christensen the star with 3/34 (9). Riley Tonkin (2/7) and Troy Blackwell (2/48) chipped in with a couple of wickets each. 

‘A’ grade cricket returned to Macclesfield for the first time in 15 years as the Redbacks hosted Hahndorf. Sadly for ‘Maccy’ it was not to be a winning return as the Magpies got up in a tight contest by two wickets. The home side won the toss and decided to bat first but it was a real struggle as no batsman could reach 20. Kieran O’Connell (19) and Connor Moore (19) top scored with the bat but it was the 33 extras conceded by Hahndorf that boosted the Redbacks score to 113 before they were bowled out in the 43rd over. All six Hahndorf bowlers took wickets with Hayden Knappstein the standout with 3/14 (5). Benny Montgomerie (2/11) and Dean Gore (2/16) were the other multiple wicket takers for the Magpies. Hahndorf battled hard in the run chase with just three players reaching double figures in Montgomerie (35), Gore (21) and Ben Judd (21 not out). The visitors held their nerve though and got the runs in the 38th over for the loss of eight wickets. Best with the ball for the Redbacks was Rohan Voogt who snared 3/27 from 7.5 overs.

Round 2 fixture (home team named first)

Nairne v Langhorne Creek

Strathalbyn v Woodside

Hahndorf v Lobethal

Bremer/Callington v Macclesfield

Ladder (after round 1)

Woodside 4, Langhorne Creek 4, Hahndorf 4, Lobethal 4, Bremer/Callington 0, Macclesfield 0, Strathalbyn 0, Nairne 0.