ADCA 2023-24: Manypeaks keep finals hopes alive with double victory over Railways in A-grade competition

A revived Manypeaks kept their hopes of a finals berth alive with a huge upset win over Railways in Albany and Districts Cricket Association’s return to fixtures post country week. The bottom-placed Peaks secured a victory double over the third-placed Tigers after they stormed to a crushing 110-run victory in their one-day match on Saturday, after a convincing 78-run T20 win on Thursday. Peaks completed the double at Turf East on Saturday after belting 235 runs batting first, led by a destructive 74 from Harry Broomhall, to secure a crucial bonus point. His swashbuckling innings came from just 48 balls, including four fours and five sixes, in a 95-run fourth-wicket partnership with Oliver Douglas (48). At 3-77 when Paul Donaldson retired hurt with a calf injury, Peaks were on the ropes before Broomhall and Douglas combined for the much-needed stand. Later, Ryan Kinnear joined Douglas at the crease and contributed a run-a-ball 19 in a 47-run partnership. Tigers’ Joe Stanley bowled 10 tidy overs for the Tigers on his way to 3-22 while Caleb Haua also claimed three scalps. However the Tigers could manage only 125 in reply with only Stanley (18), Mitch T’Hart (25), Haua (15) and Sam Slater (17) reaching double figures with the bat. Peaks’ last one-day win came in the opening round of the season but captain Regan Poett said he hopes the win will spark a push for finals. “Two wins after Christmas is a positive start for us,” he said. “If we keep winning hopefully there is definitely that hope for us to make finals. “We didn’t lose top order wickets, we kept wickets in hand and we were able to bat out the overs.” Broomhall’s scintillating innings came in his only appearance for Peaks, but Poett insists his side will be able to fill the void left by the aggressive right-hander. “We will take him (Broomhall) whenever we can get him but I think that will just be a one-off for Harry,” Poett said. “Some of our middle order batsman are starting to come into form. “Olly (Douglas) batted really well on the weekend with Harry (Broomhall) so I’m sure there are people that can step up and take over the role that Harry did for us on Saturday.” Poett said he expects Donaldson to miss two weeks with his calf strain. In their defence, Peaks’ opening bowlers Ben Southern and Cameron Walsh provided a scintillating opening spell combining for five wickets from 12 overs as the Tigers fell to 6-69. They each bowled six overs at the top with Walsh taking 3-21 and Southern claiming 2-30, while Jeremy Stewart effected a run out. Tigers’ T’hart provided some respite with 25 runs from 34 balls before they were skittled for 125 in the 29th over. Peaks cruised to a 78-run victory in their round nine T20 fixture against Tigers on Thursday. After being sent into bat, Peaks finished their innings with a defendable 141. Douglas smashed an unbeaten 29 runs from 15 balls, including two fours and six, to close out the innings. Donaldson top scored with 39 while Kieran Howie contributed 29. Tigers spinner Stanley claimed 2-19 from his four overs. In their defence, Peaks’ bowling attack ripped through the Tigers batting line-up spearheaded by Donaldson who took 3-7 from his four overs. Tigers captain Coen Marwick smashed 19 off 11, while his teammates struggled as nine batters were dismissed with scores less than 10. Peaks are currently last on the ladder, trailing Collingwood Park by six points with a game in hand, but play Mt Barker in a T20 at 4pm on Friday before Royals in a 50-over match on Saturday.