ADCA 2023-24: Collingwood Park keep finals hopes alive in heated clash, Mt Barker move clear on top of ladder

Collingwood Park kept their finals hopes alive while Mt Barker extended their lead at the top of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade ladder after round 18 on Saturday. Park secured their first one-day win since round six in November to remain in the hunt for a top-three finish after defeating Railways by 31 runs in a heated clash at Turf East on Saturday. Park recovered from an early stumble to post a strong total, aided by a late tail wag, as they were all out for 176 in the final over. They slumped to 5-28 and looked set to score less than 120 for the third straight one-day game before a destructive half century from Englishman Sam Keeling-Wright. Tigers’ Caleb Haua claimed Park opener Devon Jefferis for a duck on the third ball of the day before adding the scalp of Andrew Hagnhofer (6) six overs later. When Tigers spinner Joe Stanley pinched Park’s captain Mitch Jackson for a duck and Ryan Tindale sent Buddy Robinson (16) and Jed Schwarzbach (2) back to the pavilion, Park were in big trouble. Cam Jones (30) and O’Shea Durack (33) dug deep for a vital 56-run seventh-wicket partnership to elevate their side into triple figures before Haua dismissed Durack. Durack’s sublime knock came from 57 balls and included three fours and two sixes before the man who replaced him at the crease added to the late fireworks. Keeling-Wright provided a cavalier innings with the rest of the tail, belting a rapid 50 from 33 balls, including five maximums. Haua’s 3-41 and Stanley’s 3-32 from each of their 10 overs spearheaded the Tigers’ bowling attack while Ryan Tindale’s 2-28 from 10 was just as important. Stanley (73) followed on from his superb effort with the ball to anchor the Tigers’ run chase as his fellow partners came and went. Tigers fell to 3-43 before Stanley found a sound partner in Lachlan Tindale (20) and they combined for a 77-run fourth-wicket stand, but when Jones and Schwarzbach dismissed the pair within four balls the Tigers’ innings began to unravel. Keeling-Wright ensured the Tigers’ tail did not replicate his batting performance as the overseas quick ripped through the lower order to finish with 3-29 from 10 overs. Jones ended with 3-30 from nine overs while Jackson and Schwarzbach each claimed two wickets. In the other A-grade fixture, the Bulls moved seven points clear at the top of the ladder with an eight-wicket win over Royals at Turf North on Saturday. A faultless batting display from superstar all-rounders Jeremy Wood and Nathan Crudeli ensured the Bulls secured a huge win giving them a seven-point cushion at the top of the ladder. Jeremy Wood (90) and Crudeli (43) put on 112 together as the pair chased 157 to win for the loss of only two wickets in the 45th over. Jeremy Wood’s sensational unbeaten knock came from 120 deliverers and included four fours and five sixes while Crudeli belted four boundaries. Lions’ Lorcan McNamara (1-13) secured the wicket of Bulls opener Alex Fergie (0) on the third ball of the innings. After winning the toss and batting, the Lions had a nightmare start after Crudeli claimed opener Ted Batchelor for a royal duck before star batter Lincoln Joy (32) and Rhys Lewis (57) consolidated for an 88-run stand. At 2-109, the Lions had successfully rebuilt their innings before Paul Osborne and Crudeli tore through the Lions’ batting lineup. After their major batting collapse of 8-47, the Lions were rolled in the final over of the innings for 156. Crudeli claimed 3-40 from 10 overs while Osborne took 3-25 from 8.4. On Friday night the Bulls were five-wicket winners of the T20 grand final over Park.