Woodside has started their season with consecutive wins after a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Wistow during round two action in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA). Wistow won the toss and elected to bat first on their home ground but they couldn’t have got a worse start as Liam Willis was knocked over first ball by Dale Robinson. Skipper Daniel Jenner (28) and Lachlan Elsworthy (40) steadied the innings for the home side before a collapse of 5/3 saw the Echidnas bowled out for 106 in the 38th over. Chris Baschiera claimed 6/23, his best figures since the 2013/14 season, and Robinson took 3/26 to continue his excellent start to the season. Wistow needed some early wickets to be any sort of chance and they started well to reduce the Warriors to 3/37 with the danger man, Dave Wescombe, removed without scoring. However new recruit Will Worthington (30 not out) and skipper Brad Collins (36 not out) came together to add 70 runs for the fourth wicket to see Woodside home after just 21 overs. Elsworthy continued his good day by taking 2/34 from his nine overs.

Reigning premier Langhorne Creek has bounced back after a disastrous round one loss to win at Lobethal by seven wickets. The visitors welcomed back a number of premiership players including skipper Matt Tonkin and gun all-rounder Ben Warren. Lobethal won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow outfield and things started poorly for the home side as they slipped to 3/25 with Warren claiming the first two wickets to fall on his way to an impressive 3/18 (9). It was slow going as the northern Tigers tried to resurrect their innings through Mitch Weeks (13) and Daniel Norsworthy (35) who added 39 for the fourth wicket. This was followed by a 32-run union between Norsworthy and Matt Martin (9) but when Norsworthy was dismissed, things fell away quickly until Dave Huxter struck an enterprising 17 not out from as many balls to lift Lobethal to a competitive total of 9/137. Brad Clements (3/34) and Troy Blackwell (2/26) were the other multiple wicket takers for Langhorne Creek. The reigning premier were relatively untroubled in their run chase with opener Daniel Cleggett anchoring the innings with 41 not out and with Warren contributing a hard hitting 58 from 47 balls (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6), Langhorne Creek passed Lobethal’s total three wickets down in the 33rd over.

Hahndorf has flexed their muscles with a commanding performance at Mount Barker. Both teams were coming off first round victories so confidence was high in both camps. The home side won the toss and elected to bat first but they were soon under pressure as they slipped to 3/35. Fresh off a half century on his Kookaburras debut, Riverland recruit Simon Turk made an excellent 67 (74 balls) to take the score past 100. A late collapse of 4/1 saw Mount Barker dismissed for 152 in the 42nd over. Hahndorf’s Caleb Blesing was the star with the ball with an excellent spell of 3/16 from 9 overs. He was ably supported by Kris Dawe (2/23), Graydon Brand (2/32) and Jarrad Tait (2/34). The Magpies wasted no time getting on with the run chase as veteran opening pair Greg Hassold and Andrew Baker put the Kookaburras bowlers to the sword adding 143 for the first wicket before Baker was dismissed for 48. Hassold continued on to a fine 90 not out (17 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the visitors knocked off the runs in the 22nd over to notch their second consecutive victory to start the season.

Led by another brilliant century from skipper Mark Abbott, Strathalbyn made it two wins from as many games with a comprehensive 121-run win at Bremer-Callington. After opening the season with a score of 117, Abbott crunched 118 from 127 balls. His innings included 11 boundaries and six sixes. Matt Abbott contributed a hard hitting 33 (27 balls) and Jacob Tonkin a patient 29 (68 balls) as the Stallions posted an imposing total of 5/232 from their 45 overs. Nathan Fitzgerald continued his excellent start to the season with figures of 3/18 from his nine overs. The Cobras were never in the hunt in the run chase with only Nathan Fitzgerald showing any real resistance making a hard fought 42 from 58 balls (4 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as the home side were bowled out in the 39th over for 111. Matt Hein spun a web with 3/22 (9) and he was ably supported by Ben Cousins with 2/17 (9).

Round 3 (26/10/19) fixtures…..

Hahndorf v Woodside

Strathalbyn v Mount Barker

Langhorne Creek v Wistow

Nairne v Bremer-Callington

Lobethal has the bye