ADCA 2023-24: Railways let their chances slip as Mt Barker hold their nerve in final over to win by one run

Reigning premiers Mt Barker remain in touch with the top three after snatching victory against Railways at Turf East on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls’ and Tigers’ round six Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade fixture went to the wire but a wicket with the third-last delivery of the game handed the Bulls a single-run win. The Tigers final pair of Charlie Cousins and Ryan Tindale had negotiated four overs to leave their side needing just three runs to win from the final over. But Bulls’ new recruit Jack Pope, who has joined the club from the UK, emerged as the hero after Ryan Tindale was caught behind in a final over thriller. The Tigers in pursuit of their second win against the Bulls this season, were set a target of 147 in the 50-over contest. That came mainly thanks to a defiant half century from Bulls skipper Jeremy Wood, who remained unbeaten on 50 but his side were bowled out in the 43rd over. The Tigers lost Mohit Jaggi early in the chase and Billy O’Meara was the second wicket to fall on 18 before powerful combination Coen Marwick and import Joe Stanley guided their side towards 100. Patrick Butler removed Stanley on 22 in the 28th over to leave the Tigers 3-88. Milan Jaggi made just five but his dismissal triggered a collapse as Pope turned the game back in his side’s favour. Pope snared Milan Jaggi, trapped Marwick in front for 41 and had Caleb Haua out lbw and when Butler sent Lachlan Tindale back for a fifth-ball duck, the Tigers had slumped to 7-111. Cousins crept his side closer to victory but Mitch T’Hart (5) and Sam Slater (3) were removed by spinner Paul Osborne to leave the Tigers’ fate in the hands of the youngster Cousins and veteran Ryan Tindale. Slater fell in the 45th over with 17 runs required to win and Cousins and Ryan Tindale took it to the final over. Five runs came from the second-last over bowled by Paul Osborne, to set up a nervous final over, with the Tigers needing three runs and the Bulls one wicket. Pope was handed the responsibility of the final over and he started with three dot balls to Ryan Tindale but then bowled a wide. Ryan Tindale flashed at the fourth legal delivery and his edge sailed into the gloves of keeper Neil Ferreira to spark celebrations for the Bulls. In the end Ryan Tindale fell for eight and Cousins was 16 not out but their 15-run partnership was not enough to hand the Tigers victory at the death. Pope bobbed up to be the hero with the ball, claiming 4-17 from 5.4 overs as the Tigers were bowled out for 145. Paul Osborne (2-13) and Butler (2-22) were also crucial in the Bulls’ second win of the season, moving them to 14 points and fourth on the ladder but just five points adrift of the second-placed Tigers and equal on points with the third placed Collingwood Park. Earlier Milan Jaggi snared an impressive five-wicket haul for the Tigers, returning figures of 5-28 from six overs. Only Pope (22), Ferreira (16) and Jarrad Gardner (18) joined Wood in getting to double figures.