Terrific innings from Nathan Crudeli and Jeremy Wood put Bulls back on top of the ADCA A-grade ladder

A classy partnership between senior pair Nathan Crudeli and Jeremy Wood guided Mt Barker to a seven-wicket victory against Manypeaks in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition at Turf South on Saturday. Peaks set the Bulls 178 to win batting first off the back of a strong stand from Ryan Kinnear and James Bottomley, but the Bulls responded in strong fashion to reach the target in the 43rd over. The game was in the balance when Bulls opener Alex Fergie was trapped in front on 11 by Kane Pinney in the fifth over, but a calm innings from Wood and Crudeli steered the Bulls home with 47 balls to spare. Crudeli smashed an unbeaten 73 off 96 balls in an innings that included six boundaries (five fours and one six), while Wood chipped in with three fours and two sixes on his way to an impressive 72. A quick single brought up Wood’s half-century in the 32nd over, with Crudeli reaching the 50 mark shortly afterwards. Crudeli and Wood continued to play with freedom, whacking two sixes over long on within three balls of each other to bring the Bulls within 44 runs of victory. Wood was finally dismissed by Paul Donaldson in the 39th over but it was all too late as the Bulls cruised home to finish at 3-178, notching their fourth victory of the season in round nine. Peaks’ English quick Bottomley toiled hard in a losing affair, returning figures of 1-32 from nine overs. Earlier in the day, Peaks’ top order crumbled on with Kieran Howie (11), Seb Stanton (1) and Kane Pinney (13) all out before drinks to leave their side 3-43. Regan Poett (22) and Paul Donaldson (23) shared in a 37-run stand to steady the innings before Craig Anning trapped Poett in front and snared Donaldson’s wicket six overs later. Ethan Drew managed only seven before he was bowled by Jarrad Gardner, then Jeremy Wood bowled Trent Poett for 14.Kinnear (23) and Bottomley (39) dug in with a crucial 54-run stand to help Peaks reach a decent total of 7-177. Anning (2-23) was the pick of the Bulls’ bowlers and was well supported by Jeremy Wood (1-31), who had three maidens in his 10-over spell.