ADCA 2023-24: Railways knock off reigning premiers, Manypeaks defeat a wayward opposition in round one upsets

There was a big shock in the opening round of the 2023/24 Albany & Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition as Railways and Manypeaks both caused upsets on Saturday. Tigers and Peaks were both expected to struggle in the new season, fielding young and relatively inexperienced teams. However both emerged with impressive round one victories over more fancied rivals, shaking up the start of the new season. The Tigers caused a major boilover as the inclusion of English all-rounder Joe Stanley had an immediate impact, his side taking down reigning premiers Mt Barker at Turf South. The Bulls, who are chasing a third straight A-grade title, were restricted to 129 all out as only former Tiger Nathan Crudeli (43 not out) and returning opener Nathan Crosby (22) made significant contributions with the bat. Stanley was superb with the ball, snaring 3-22, and veteran seamer Ryan Tindale did the early damage with 3-21 as the Tigers sniffed an upset. Brothers Milan and Mohit Jaggi fell cheaply and when Bulls captain Jeremy Wood had his Tigers counterpart caught for 16, the game swung back in the Bulls favour. The Tigers were 3-43 when their skipper was dismissed and the loss of Caleb Haua for a duck and Billy O’Meara for two left their side with plenty of work to do at 5-52. Stanley, however, was up to the task as he shared in a defiant 29-run stand with Lachlan Tindale to get their side towards triple figures. Tindale was removed for 17 from 33 but Stanley held the Tigers’ chase together. A 15-run partnership with Sam Slater got the Tigers closer to the target and then teenager Harry McLeod showed determination beyond his years to stick with Stanley. Stanley finished unbeaten on 49 and McLeod played a vital cameo at No.10 with six not out from 32 balls as the Tigers won by two wickets. The Tigers, who only recorded two wins last season, reached victory with nine balls to spare. Jeremy Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 3-22 for the Bulls. Across at Turf North, it was Peaks who prevailed in a see-sawing battle against Collingwood Park. A wayward display with the ball didn’t help Park’s cause as they gave up 55 extras in 45 overs on their way to a 52-run defeat. English pacemen Cameron Jones and Sam Keeling-Wright were the main culprits in their Australian debuts. Park bowled 22 wides and 15 no-balls amongst 55 total extras and were penalised 12 runs for a slow over rate, as Peaks finished with a total of 9-205. A 75-run stand between senior pair Ryan Kinnear and Paul Donaldson set the tone for Peaks, Donaldson going on to reach a half century. His 54 from just 56 balls included two sixes while Kinnear made 34 at No.3 as their side set a strong total batting first. Jones, despite his 11 wides and eight no-balls, claimed 3-38 and Keeling-Wright bowled with good pace to snare 2-23 from eight overs. Peaks young gun Cameron Walsh picked up Jones and Devon Jefferis cheaply before Park’s prized recruit Michael Ferreira went about rescuing the innings. Ferreira and Jed Schwarzbach combined for 100 runs to get Park back into a winning position. However Schwarzbach’s dismissal triggered a horrible collapse, as Park lost 8-23 to be all out for 153. Jeremy Stewart trapped Schwarzbach in front for a well-made 33 from 50 deliveries and then Oliver Douglas snared Brad Bootsma (1) and Jarrad Fuller (0). Ferreira was next to go on 77 from 73 balls, also undone by Douglas, who then went on to dismiss Buddy Robinson and Keeling-Wright to leave Park reeling at 8-144. Walsh claimed the final two wickets to seal the Peaks’ upset result, as Park were bowled out in 33 overs. Douglas finished with a five-wicket haul, his sensational six-over spell yielding 5-28 and he had terrific support from Walsh with 4-34.