ADCA 2023-24: Royals fall short in big chase against reigning premiers to suffer first loss of A-grade season

Reigning premiers Mt Barker jumped back inside the top three after making a statement against Royals in their round seven Albany and Districts Cricket Association clash on Saturday. The Lions’ winning streak came to an end, as the Bulls defended 237 in a run-fest at Turf North. Alex Fergie came very close to scoring the first century in A-grade this season but his brilliant partnership with Neil Ferreira set the tone for the Bulls’ 36-run win. The result came without suspended captain Jeremy Wood and lifted the Bulls to 20 points and third on the standings. They sit five points behind the second placed Railways while the Lions hold onto top spot after securing 28 points in their first five games. Fergie blasted 96 and Ferreira made 50, the pair sharing in a 150-run stand that took the game away from the Lions. Ferreira was run out by Angus Thompson and after an innings that included 13 fours and one six, Fergie fell to Rhys Lewis four runs short of his ton. Nathan Crudeli made an unbeaten 45 but the Bulls had a middle order collapse, losing 6-44. But the Bulls still made 8-237 from their 50 overs as Lewis returned 1-26 from 10 and Mitch Green chipped in with three wickets. Crudeli ripped through the Lions’ top order, claiming the huge wicket of Green in the first over for a duck. He then had Ted Batchelor (6), Lincoln Joy (21) and Ryley Valli (0) all back in the pavilion as the Lions limped to 4-31. Ryan Davies, Rhys Lewis and Angus Thompson all got starts but when Jack Hastie fell for one, the Lions were in all sorts of trouble at 8-120. A defiant innings from all-rounder Matt France gave the Lions a silly chance of victory however, smashing a rapid 72 from just 69 balls. France hit five maximums and had a 62-run partnership with Matt Thompson to add some respectability for the Lions. Jarrad Gardner (2-21) eventually had France caught in the deep and Harry Forsyth and Matt Thompson added 19 more runs before Jarrad Gardner snared the final wicket. The Lions were bowled out for 201 with still more than five overs left in the innings as they suffered their first loss of the campaign. Crudeli was outstanding with 4-22 from nine overs while Paul Osborne took 3-19.