SANDY Creek capitulated in the dying moments of its Barossa & Light A1 cricket match against Tanunda to lose by one run.

The Cockies were 8/139 and needed just a single to tie, and two to win, but suffered two run outs to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Sandy Creek was 6/52 at stumps, but had Rhys Handtke and Will O’Brien at the crease.

Handtke made 33 before he was bowled by Trent Goers, and Steve Hands was the next to fall for 25, leaving the Cockies still 12 runs short of the required target.

Adrian Pullman (three) was the first of the final two wickets to be run out.

O’Brien (34) was unable to add that crucial run and was also run out, leaving the Cockies stranded on 139.

Tanunda’s Sam Colquhoun was terrific with the ball, taking 5/31 from his 21 overs.

Blues claim early outright

Angaston’s quest to return to the summit of the B&LCA is off to a cracking start after it beat Gilbert Valley outright.

The Blues already secured first innings points on day one a week earlier, having bowled the Bulls out for just 22 and declaring at 0/23.

Gilbert Valley resumed on 7/103 with Isaac Condon and Caleb Schwartz at the crease.

Condon wasn’t able to add to his 35 from day one and was bowled out by Brett Woodards, leaving the Bulls at 8/106.

Andrew Bruce (eight) and Sam Goodfellow (10) couldn’t add much more to the total, and the Bulls were all out for 133.

Woodards was in terrific form with the ball, taking 4/36.

The Blues then took just 33 overs to secure the outright win, largely thanks to an unbeaten 59 from Jayden Antonie, and 33 not out from Scott Rathjen.

Tom Vater was the pick of the Bulls’ bowlers with 2/18.

Tigers take thriller

Freeling suffered a lower order collapse to lose to Nuriootpa by five runs on Saturday.

The Tigers were bowled out for 209 on day one, but had the Water Hens one wicket down before stumps.

Sam Daff (24) and Austin Schmidt (30) batted well at the resumption of play on the weekend, and the Hens looked well-positioned to hunt down Nuri’s total.

Ben Parish was also in form, but the middle order wasn’t doing any significant damage.

Brian Montgomery (12) and Austin Poulton (10) struggled, while Ian McMillan was caught for a duck.

A 68-run partnership between Parish and James Parker looked to have set up a match-winning score, with the Water Hens 8/201 when the latter’s wicket fell.

However, Michael Chesson (two) and Hayden Loveridge (duck) couldn’t hold out long enough to secure the win.

Parish finished the day unbeaten on 69.

Lions get the win

South Gawler has commenced its premiership defence in style, beating Mallala by 68 runs.

The Lions were bowled out for 216 on day one, but were comfortable against a shallow Magpies batting order.

Brad Wilson (37) and Jake Birchmore (58) were the top scorers as their side was all out for 148.

Rob McCard, Jordan Dare and Dave Golder took three wickets each, while Will Earle chipped in with one.

The Lions went back into bat and made 4/64 from their 12 overs.