Aldgate 8/214 def Stirling 196

After getting rolled for 99 in round 1 against Stirling, the last thing anyone expected was for Aldgate to knock off Stirling in the 2025/26 HCA GF. The A grade didnt post a win until round 7, however after this things started to turn and they managed to win 5 of their next 6 games, and ultimately did enough to finish 3rd. They then won an elimantion final over local rival Mt Lofty, before then knocking over the powerhouse in Meadows, before finally facing the HCA's best team of the 2020's in the title decider. Saturday was washed out, so as a result the game was played the following day on Sunday. Captain Josh Callaghan won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, and openers Will Quigley Smith and Mitch Thomas got us off to a good start. We reached 0/60 after 15 overs, before Quigley Smith departed for 24. Callaghan joined Thomas and together these two negotiated through until drinks reaching 1/90 after 23 overs. We got off to a good start after drinks, however Thomas (49) and Callaghan (28) departed in the same over to leave us at 3/115 after 28 overs. Pierce Cordes Harvey and Max Bilsborow then consilidated, moving the run rate along. A total around 190 looked on the cards before Luke Smet smacked a quick 40 off 21 balls, pushing the total out to a very competitive 214.

The message at the tea break was fairly simple, bowl disciplined, full outside off, and hold onto the catches. Opener Jack Read was known to go after the openers, however the boys knew a chance would come, and it did early, as Woollard removed the dangerous opener for 1. The Gaters were up and about, bowling full and fielding well, and a nice field change brought about a second wicket for Hansen, with the total at 2/30 after 11 overs. The Bilsborow brothers then came on and both took a wicket as Stirling started to slip away from the required run rate reaching 4/70 at the drinks break. Smet then came on after drinks and took 3 massive wickets and the game looked all but over as they reached 8/112 after 32 overs. Credit to Stirlings lower order, as they refused to give up and gave themselves a slight chance reaching 8/155 before Angus Bilsborow removed the dangerous Kurt Zytnik. With 2 overs left the game appeared out of hand before 3 boundaries brought Stirling within 18 runs and with it some belief. However it was not to be. Angus Bilsborow came charging in, and the number 11 looked for the ropes once again, smacking the ball high towards the cover boundary. In what felt like an eternity watching the ball swirl in the air, Blake Lewis remained calm and ran around to take one of the great catches before sending the Aldgate players and supporters into pandamonium.