ADCA 2023-24: Training shake-up spurs Collingwood Park to dedicated batting innings in victory over Royals

Collingwood Park skipper Mitch Jackson believes a training shake-up inspired his side’s victory over Royals on Saturday, propelling them into a finals-bound position with one round to go in the A-grade season. The victory thwarted the Lions’ chances of an Albany and Districts Cricket Association minor premiership, instead handing it to Mt Barker who have now directly qualified for the grand final on March 23. A Michael Ferreira-anchored innings helped Park score their second-highest one-day total of the season against the second-placed Lions at Turf South. After stumbling to 2-8, Park recovered from the worrying start and finished their 50 overs at 9-183 before rolling the Lions for 159 to win by 24 runs. Ferreira scored a match-high 52 runs, perfectly anchoring Park’s innings, and his patient 91-ball stay included several key partnerships. Park captain Mitch Jackson said a training change-up proved pivotal to his side’s impressive first innings recovery. “He (Ferreira) was pretty much a standout and I changed training and flipped it on its head and it’s turned out to change him as well,” Jackson said. “I ended up doing a live net, so people learnt the hard way on pretty much just being as patient as possible. “But it obviously showed batting overs can put you in positions to win a game and he (Ferreira) was a step above in some respects and applied himself a little bit more.” Jackson (26) and Jed Schwarzbach (17) contributed a vital 36-run third-wicket stand to drag their side out of a hole before Ferriera strolled to the crease and played a decisive knock. Sam Keeling-Wright (23) joined Ferreira at the crease as the pair added 41 for the sixth wicket before the in-from batter was assisted by Kobus Wessels (19) to contribute a further 47 runs for the seventh wicket. Lorcan McNamara was pick of the Lions’ bowlers with 3-14 from seven overs while Matt France and Rhys Lewis each snared two wickets. Park faces minor premiers the Bulls this week, who will be without a suspended Alex Fergie, and Jackson believes the groundwork for their latest performance was laid during their mid-week training sessions. “It starts on Tuesday for us and the way we conduct ourselves during training pretty much indicates the outcome on Saturday,” he said. “Putting our best foot forward and basically if we play our role, the outcome will take care of itself. “I’m not too worried about the outcome, it will take care of itself if we apply ourselves enough.” In their defence, Park got an immediate breakthrough as Keeling-Wright claimed Lions opener Ted Batchelor (2) with the fourth ball of the innings before adding the scalp of Lewis to his tally in the seventh over. At 2-26, Ryley Valli (22) and Mitch Green (33) toiled for a 54-run third-wicket stand before Ferreira followed on from his superb batting effort and removed Valli. When Green fell to Schwarzbach and France (15) and McNamara (0) departed soon after, the Lions found themselves 6-118 and in desperate need of a partnership. Angus Thompson (18) and Ryan Davies (14) added 19 for the seventh wicket before they were each dismissed within five balls of each other. An injured Jack Hastie batted with a runner and provided some resistance with 13, but the Lions fell short as they were bowled out inside 42 overs.