ADCA 2023-24: Collingwood Park denied in final over as Railways learn lessons from last week’s close result

Railways used lessons from last week’s narrow loss to help them turn the tables, according to skipper Coen Marwick after another Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade fixture that went to the final over. The Tigers went down in a final-over thriller last week at the hands of the Bulls. But they turned the tables at Turf South as they restricted Park to just three runs in the final over on the way to securing a tense six-run triumph. A fourth win of the season has the Tigers firmly in second spot on the ladder and Marwick said they were spurred on by last week’s demons. “It was a great win on the weekend, having lost a close game last week to (Mt) Barker it gave us a little bit extra to play for,” he said. “It gives belief, it gives confidence and more importantly it gives us a game buffer on the ladder for that second spot.” In their pursuit of 219 to win, half centuries to seasoned all-rounder Michael Ferreira and youngster O’Shea Durack had Park in the game. Skipper Brad Bootsma scored a vital 26 before he fell to Coen Marwick in the 46th over with Park needing 21 runs to win. Marwick snared the ninth wicket when he bowled Dylan Belward (3) in the 48th over as Park moved to 9-206. Premiership player Julian Crudeli, who made a surprise return to Tigers colours, bowled the penultimate over of the innings that went for just three runs. That left Park requiring 10 runs to win from the final over with Tigers skipper Marwick taking the responsibility to bowl it. Two singles and then a leg bye from the first three deliveries had all the pressure on Park and then Marwick bowled a dot ball to tailender Ben Grey. Grey was bowled on the fifth ball of the final over, sparking jubilant scenes for the Tigers as they secured a fourth win of 2023-24. Marwick didn’t bowl until the 36th over and had immediate effect, removing Durack for a patient 54. His 7.5 over spell was decisive in the result, claiming 5-30 as Park were bowled out for 212 in reply. Englishman Cameron Jones nearly lifted Park to an unlikely victory with 30 not out but his side was unable to make it three wins in a row. Crudeli snared 2-37 in his first game of the season while spinners Joe Stanley (1-32) and Lachlan Tindale (1-36) were vital in the middle overs. Earlier, Lachlan Tindale and Crudeli made sizeable contributions as the Tigers surpassed 200. Lachlan Tindale hit seven boundaries and top scored with 54 while Crudeli made 42 from only 48 balls, the pair sharing in a 57-run stand. Jones snared three early breakthroughs, including the key wicket of Marwick (1), while Grey ran out Stanley on 18. Ferreira then ripped through the lower order, taking 5-38 from 9.4 overs to restrict the Tigers to 218.