ADCA 2023-24: Bulls make it three wins in a row, Lions grind past Tigers in tough chase and T20 action returns

Mt Barker and Royals recorded 50-over victories as the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition heads towards the mid-season break. In a busy week for the top grade, two 50-over games were played in round eight on Saturday while Twenty20 twilight matches were also completed on Thursday and Friday. The Bulls made it three wins on the trot as they scored a 77-run triumph over Manypeaks at Turf South, spearheaded by a devastating opening spell from left-arm swing bowler Steven Scott. Peaks were set 192 to win but Scott ripped apart their top order as the Bulls coasted to a bonus-point victory that lifted them back into second spot on the ladder. Scott snared the first four wickets in Peaks’ run chase and they were never a chance from that point on after being reduced to 4-14. Daniel Rees, playing his first game of the season, was skittled by Scott with the first ball he faced and then captain Regan Poett was trapped in front for a 10-ball duck to give Scott two scalps in the second over. He then produced a double-wicket maiden with his fourth over, as firstly Paul Donaldson was caught behind on one and then Kane Pinney was bowled without scoring. Seb Stanton played a defiant top-order innings, hitting just one boundary in his 79-ball stay. Bulls seamer Jeremy Wood removed both Ryan Kinnear (2) and Englishman Ben Southern (3) before Stanton was caught and bowled by Nathan Crudeli on 33, as Peaks slumped to 7-63. Young guns Cameron Walsh and Regan Christensen restored some respectability for Peaks with a 36-run ninth wicket stand. Christensen was stumped for 21 and Walsh was run out soon after on 27 from 69 deliveries, as Peaks were bowled out for 114 in reply. Scott did the bulk of the damage with 4-10 from six overs while Wood returned 2-13 and youngster Max Osborne bowled well to claim 1-27 from nine overs. Earlier strong top order contributions from several Bulls helped them surpass 150 batting first. Alex Fergie missed out, making only one, but teammates Neil Ferreira (25), Wood (37), Nathan Crudeli (21) and Jack Pope (29 not out) helped the Bulls make 191 all out. Walsh was outstanding with the ball to finish with 4-23 from his 10 overs that including key trio Fergie, Wood and Nathan Crudeli. Southern (2-30) and Oliver Douglas (2-31) were the other multiple wicket takers. At Turf North the Lions bounced back from their first loss of the season to the Bulls last week with a four-wicket win over Railways. A middle order collapse left some nervous moments for the Lions in pursuit of 157 but the in-form Matt France ensured his side got across the line with 30 balls to spare. Openers Mitch Green and Ted Batchelor set a strong platform for the Lions, with a 74-run stand. Batchelor was out lbw to English spinner Joe Stanley on 37 and then Tim Edmunds nicked off Green after a steady knock of 35. Lincoln Joy (2) and Rhys Lewis (0) fell cheaply and when Edmunds had Ryley Valli out for 13, the Lions still had work to do at 5-99. France however would save the day, making an unbeaten 44 to take his season average to 87. Ryan Davies was the sixth Lions wicket to fall with his side needing 37 to win and youngster Angus Thompson (14 not out) combined well with France to ensure it was a comfortable result in the end. France hit only two boundaries but his strong season with the bat continued, having made three half centuries and with a lowest score of 23. Stanley continues to trouble opposition with the ball, taking 2-39 from his 10 overs, while Edmunds returned 3-29. The Tigers’ overseas import also fired with the bat, top scoring with 59 to guide his side out of early trouble. There were no real significant partnerships for the Tigers but Stanley played a variety of shots and worked the ball nicely in his half century that included five fours. After starts from Mohit Jaggi (15) and Billy O’Meara (23), Tigers skipper Coen Marwick played a rare rash shot and was out for seven to Jake Poad. Key man Julian Crudeli was run out for 18 as he was looking ominous and Stanley was eventually undone by fellow spinner Jack Hastie as the Tigers were bowled out for 156. Poad finished with 3-30 and in an innings where the Lions used nine bowling options and wrist spinner Joy was also terrific with 2-26 from 10. Meanwhile on Thursday, Collingwood Park were crushing six-wicket winners over the Lions in the first T20 game of the season at Turf North. English quicks Sam Keeling-Wright and Cameron Jones and Melville star Mitch Jackson destroyed the Lions’ top order. Only Ryan Davies (17) and Lorcan McNamara (13 not out) made double figures as the Lions were skittled for 69 as Jackson snared 3-14 in an outstanding showing. Park were 2-9 in reply but Jackson belted 29 from 27 balls and had support from Jarrad Fuller (11 not out) and Michael Ferreira (10) as they cruised to the total in the 15th over. The Lions got their first T20 win of the campaign on Friday, beating Peaks by 10 runs at Turf North. France was superb with the blade, smashing three sixes in his 59 from just 45 balls, to help the Lions reach 7-131 from their 20 overs with support from Lewis (32). A 74-run opening partnership from Stanton and Pinney had Peaks in the game. Stanton was run out for 26 and Pinney’s quickfire 57 from 50 deliveries ended when removed by McNamara. Peaks’ middle order faltered however, as they lost 5-9, and could only manage 7-121 in reply. Matt Thompson (2-20) and France (1-17) were the pick of the Lions bowlers.