Early season action with our local leagues is proving to be unpredictable, with a range of upsets and statement matches headlining a fascinating day’s play on Saturday. Catch up on all the action here:
GREAT SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION (full scorecards here)
Defending champions Goolwa are now 0-2 in the new Great Southern Cricket Association season, after McLaren Districts came to town and shocked them by 40 runs on Saturday.
A 70 from captain Chris Beaty, along with a run-a-ball 52 from Kevin Grant, set up the Crushers for a total of 213 before a well-rounded performance with the ball held Goolwa away.
The rest of the games from the round went as expected, with Noarlunga, Encounter Bay and Port Elliot all winning comfortably.
ALEXANDRA AND EASTERN HILLS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (full scorecards here)
Lobethal and Langhorne Creek have both sent thunderous statements to the rest of the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association on Saturday, rebounding in big ways after both losing in the opening round.
Lobethal made 354 in their 45 overs to beat Mount Barker by 173 runs at the Showgrounds, while Langhorne Creek chased down 151 with nine wickets to spare to thrash Nairne.
Elsewhere, Hahndorf cruised past Strathalbyn to become the only 2-0 team in the league and Bremer Callington beat Woodside by 39 runs.
HILLS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (full scorecards here)
Scott Creek Ironbank has won a one-wicket thriller against Aldgate with just two balls to spare, headlining a gripping round of Hills Cricket Association action on Saturday.
Aldgate made 201, led by a half century to opener James Anthony, before SCIB chipped away at the total collectively to scrape in for an important early season win.
Other matches from the round saw Kangarilla beat Mount Lofty by four wickets with just an over to spare themselves, while Onkaparinga and Stirling continued their winning ways with close victories.
MURRAY TOWNS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (full scorecards here)
Monarto’s moved into the top two of the Murray Towns Cricket Association after they handed new A grade side Imperials their first loss of the young season on Saturday.
The Blackcaps got three wickets each from Harry Miles and Tyson Owen to keep Imperials to 143, before Roclin Bates made a half-century to guide Monarto to a comfortable seven wicket win.
In other matches from the round, Mannum sits top once again after a six-wicket win over Tailem Bend, Ramblers beat Jervois by three wickets and the Wanderers smashed Meningie by 171 runs.
