ADCA 2023-24: Bulls claim final over thriller to deny Tigers, Park destroy Peaks in double bonus point victory

Mt Barker and Railways produced a thrilling finish as their round six clash went to the wire while the other Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade fixture was a very one-sided affair on Saturday. The Bulls claimed a last over epic against the Tigers, as they snared the final wicket with the third-last delivery of the game to win by a single run at Turf East. However the game between Manypeaks and Collingwood Park was finished hours earlier, as Park produced a crushing double bonus point win at Turf North. The Tigers in pursuit of their second win against the reigning premiers this season, were set a target of 147 in the 50-over contest. That came mainly thanks to a defiant half century from Bulls skipper Jeremy Wood, who remained unbeaten on 50 but his side were bowled out in 43rd over. The Tigers lost Mohit Jaggi early in the chase and Billy O’Meara was the second wicket to fall on 18 before powerful combination Coen Marwick and import Joe Stanley guided their side towards 100. Patrick Butler removed Stanley on 22 in the 28th over to leave the Tigers 3-88. Milan Jaggi made just five but his dismissal triggered a collapse as Bulls’ new recruit Jack Pope turned the game back in his side’s favour. Pope snared Milan Jaggi, trapped Marwick in front for 41 and had Caleb Haua out lbw and when Butler sent Lachlan Tindale back for a fifth-ball duck, the Tigers had slumped to 7-111. Charlie Cousins crept his side closer to victory but Mitch T’Hart (5) and Sam Slater (3) were removed by spinner Paul Osborne to leave the Tigers’ fate in the hands of the youngster Cousins and veteran Ryan Tindale. Slater fell in the 45th over with 17 runs required to win and Cousins and Ryan Tindale took it to the final over. Five runs came from the second-last over bowled by Paul Osborne, to set up a nervous final over, with the Tigers needing three runs and the Bulls one wicket. Pope was handed the responsibility of the final over and he started with three dot balls to Ryan Tindale but then bowled a wide. Ryan Tindale flashed at the fourth legal delivery however and his edge sailed into the gloves of keeper Neil Ferreira to spark celebrations for the Bulls. In the end Ryan Tindale fell for eight and Cousins was 16 not out but their 15-run partnership was not enough to hand the Tigers victory at the death. Pope bobbed up to be the hero with the ball, claiming 4-17 from 5.4 overs as the Tigers were bowled out for 145. Paul Osborne (2-13) and Butler (2-22) were also crucial in the Bulls’ second win of the season. Earlier Milan Jaggi snared an impressive five-wicket haul for the Tigers, returning figures of 5-28 from six overs. Only Pope (22), Neil Ferreira (16) and Jarrad Gardner (18) joined Wood in getting to double figures. Park coasted to a double bonus point demolition of Peaks earlier in the day, as English quicks Sam Keeling-Wright and Cameron Jones starred. The pair combined for seven wickets as Peaks were rolled for just 68 batting first. Four of Peaks’ top six batters were clean-bowled, as Keeling-Wright led the destruction with 5-21 in a rampant display. Seb Stanton battled hard for 15 and Peaks’ overseas player Ben Southern was unbeaten on 18 but their side was skittled inside 31 overs. The chase did not last long at all, Keeling-Wright and Devon Jefferis having no trouble knocking off the small total. Jefferis hit four boundaries in his 34 from 32 balls and Keeling-Wright belted 30 from 18 balls, including five boundaries, as they scored a dominant 10-wicket win in just 8.1 overs.