LIAM PHILLIPS
MALLALA opening batsman, Jake Birchmore, managed to stick around for his side’s full 40 overs in its one-day clash with South Gawler in Barossa and Light Cricket Association A1 action, finishing on 91 notout.
He received handy help from opening partner Brad Wilson (57) and brother Matthew Birchmore (43) as the trio combined for 191 of Mallala’s 6/225 total.
The Lions got much less from its opening batsmen, falling for seven and five respectively to leave the home side 2/18, before Dael Redmond came to the crease and was determined to not be outdone.
Redmond piled up 95 notout from 86 deliveries, while partners Jarrod Kroon (48 from 78 deliveries) and Jacob Ahern (24) gave enough support to reach the total with ten balls remaining, taking a five-wicket victory.
Freeling bowlers dominate Nuriootpa travelled to the previously winless Freeling and were met with stiff resistance early and often as the home side’s bowling attack, usually a one-man-band with Brian Montgomery, had multiple key contributors.
The Tigers got off to a horror start, losing both openers to LBW decisions to fall to 2/2 and were never able to right the ship.
Jordan Robertson (33) provided the only real score of the innings, with only one other Tiger reaching double figures as Water Hens Michael Chesson (3/8) and Austin Poulton (4/25) proved difficult to keep out, dismissing the visitors for 89.
Despite a couple of ducks during the chase, Montgomery (38 not-out) and Poulton (30 not-out) guided the home side to its first win of the season, prevailing by seven wickets.
Business as usual for Blues With Freeling getting its first win, now only Gilbert Valley are yet to register a victory this season as it hosted table-toppers Angaston in what was a mismatch on paper, and in reality.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat on its home deck, the Bulls were unable to keep Brett Burgess out as he took 4/23 from seven smothering overs.
Dylan Busch (53) was the shining light for the home side, scoring nearly half of his side’s 117 runs.
To the Bulls’ credit, it made the chase scrappy and did not allow any Blues batsman to score more than a run-a-ball, with Thomas Vater posting an excellent one-day line of 2/13 with three maidens from his eight overs of work.
In the end, it wasn’t enough, as Dylan Schmidt (35 not-out) and Jack Henke (31 not-out) reached the target with over seven overs remaining for a five-wicket win.
Cockatoos win in Tanunda In a clash between two mid-table sides, Sandy Creek travelled to Tanunda, where the home side won the toss and decided to bat first.
Nobody starred with the bat for the Magpies, but there were solid contributors throughout the line-up as five batsmen scored between 19 and 26 runs, with Sam Colquhoun (26) leading the way.
Riley Robinson was the match’s dominant bowler, taking 4/15 from eight overs of work and repeatedly breaking partnerships.
The Cockatoo chase got off to a shaky start, losing three early wickets to be sitting at 3/25, before a steady captain’s knock from Rhys Handtke (37 from 70 deliveries) got things under control.
Contributions came further down the order from Daniel Koch (29) and Anthony Lewendon (29 not-out) as the Magpies bowlers couldn’t stem the bleeding, with the away side eventually winning by four wickets.
