All-rounder Kane Pinney returns for Manypeaks while Royals go into A-grade preliminary final unchanged

For the third successive season Royals and Manypeaks will clash in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade preliminary final, the two sides squaring off on Saturday for the chance to tackle Mt Barker in the grand final next week. The Bulls qualified directly into this season’s decider after finishing on top of the ladder in the shortened regular season and will await the result of Saturday’s cut-throat final to see who their opponent is next Saturday. In 2019-20 Peaks and the Lions met in a preliminary final that was abandoned due to rain, with Peaks progressing to the grand final as the higher-ranked team. Weather is threatening to play a part in this Saturday’s preliminary final, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a 50 per cent chance of up to 2mm of rain. The Lions are the reigning A-grade premiers and claimed a seven-wicket win in last season’s preliminary final, chasing 180 to eliminate Peaks from the title race. With the normal season reduced, a points ratio on games played was used to determine final positions on the ladder, handing the Lions second spot ahead of Peaks after last Saturday’s final round. The Lions will progress to the decider should the preliminary final be abandoned due to rain on Saturday. Peaks captain Aran Tilbury said the weather was out of their control and his side were focused on being at their best to knock off the Lions. The two sides have not faced off in a 50-over fixture since November 27, when the Lions were dominant nine-wicket winners on the back of an unbeaten 94 from skipper Mitch Green. “We are ready but we know that we have to play really well to beat them as they are the team to beat,” Tilbury said. “If it rains there is not much we can do about it.” Peaks will be boosted by the return of all-rounder Kane Pinney, who could replace seamer Jonathan Brodala, and they will take plenty of confidence out of last week’s big win over the Bulls. The Lions will go into the final with an unchanged line-up from their demolition of Railways last week. Green said his side felt ready for the challenge of finals. “It has snuck up on everyone but we feel prepared and excited to be playing at this time of the season,” he said. “Manypeaks are a formidable opponent, they are always tough to beat in finals and we are very focused on the task of beating them on Saturday to get into a grand final.” The preliminary final will be played at Turf North, starting at noon. The ADCA will play their B-grade and C-grade qualifying and elimination finals on Saturday and preliminary finals on Sunday. ALBANY AND DISTRICTS CRICKET ASSOCIATION FINALS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 A-GRADE, noon start Preliminary final - Royals v Manypeaks at Turf North B-GRADE, 12.30pm start Qualifying final – Manypeaks v Royals at Turf South Elimination final – Denmark v Collingwood Park at McLean Park C-GRADE, 1pm start Qualifying final – Collingwood Park v Narrikup at Collingwood Park Elimination final – Manypeaks v Royals at Hard North SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 B-GRADE, 11am start Preliminary final at Turf South C-GRADE, 11am start Preliminary final at Hard North