Cricket: Weekend match reports

Manypeaks still have a chance

Manypeaks have snuck into fourth place on the Albany Cricket Association A-grade ladder after recording a resounding win over Royals, keeping alive their chances of playing finals.

With just three matches remaining in the home and away season, Manypeaks knocked Collingwood Park out of the top four with a gutsy 45-run win over the Lions in round 12 on Saturday.

Led by Welsh import Dave Goodway, who produced an outstanding all-round performance, Peaks’ strangled a fragile Lions batting line-up, which may come under fire following two consecutive poor performances.

Goodway compiled a patient innings of 30 to help his side reach 153 on a very tough batting surface before taking 3-18 from his 10- over spell, including the prize wicket of Lions skipper Tim Hutchison for 34.

Apart from Hutchison, there was little resistance from the Lions, who lost 5-15 during the middle of their run-chase following their skipper’s dismissal.

Dave Pyle (2-15) troubled the Lions on the inconsistent pitch and Peaks skipper Ryan Kinnear (4-21) quickly cleaned up the tail to bundle the third-placed Lions out for 108.

Earlier Peaks’ keeper Bryce Durack was moved up to open the batting and it came with success, scoring 21 before contributions from Shayne Wornes (17), Goodway and George Liddiard (17 not out) pushed their score past 150.

“We were looking to score 170 to 200 but credit to our bowlers,” Kinnear said.

“We got those two early wickets and the wicket was conducive to spin which favoured us.”

Kinnear won the toss and immediately chose to bat, on a wicket that only got worse, Lions opener Steve Denton (3-24) once again claimed early wickets before Goodway steadied the ship.

“Thirty doesn’t look a big score but in the end it was,” Kinnear said.

“George and Dave (Pyle) at the end put on 30 for the 10th wicket and that was really the difference.”

Hutchison said the blame was left solely on his batsmen who failed miserably to chase down a relatively small total.

North County a step closer to A-grade minor premiership

North County have gone a step closer to claiming the Albany Cricket Association A-grade minor premiership with a 30-run victory over Collingwood Park on Saturday.

The ladder leaders currently sit two games clear at the top of the ladder with three games remaining but survived a late scare from Park to secure their 10th win of the season on the back of a brilliant innings of 98 from Brent Welshman.

Welshman relished his opportunity to open the batting and combined with Craig Tonkin for a 131-run opening stand before Ben Grey removed Tonkin on 65.

As wickets fell around him, Welshman closed in on a century, but fell two runs short when Park quick Hayden Burling took a superb low catch off his own bowling.

Burling (4-40) and Grey (2-20) were the pick of the bowlers for Park as the Bulldogs reached 9-252.

In reply Park were immediately under pressure when Dylan Parry (2-41) claimed two wickets in two overs, removing the dangerous Nathan Dovey (13) and Russell Hare (4).

Tim Pyle (9) was the next to go, the first of three Chris Pumphrey wickets, but Park keeper Matt Heberle began to chalk out an innings amidst the batting collapse.

Pumphrey (3-27) snared Ben Wrobel for six and bowled Daniel Parker for a duck to leave Park reeling at 5-70.

Heberle and youngster Corey Rogers then combined for a 100- run stand, before Heberle fell for 91, an innings that included 10 boundaries.

Rogers (24), Burling (34) and Grant Freeborough (11) ensured the tail wagged for their side but Graeme Weinert (3-22) made sure his side got over the line, Park finishing on 9-222.

In the other round 12 A-grade match, Railways survived an early collapse to defeat Denmark by four wickets.

The Magpies failed with the bat, making just 93 but in reply the Tigers limped past their total six wickets down.

Zane Marwick (0) and Rhys Donaldson (6) both went early and when Daniel Macomish (6), Clayton Wood (6) and Tim Edmunds (3) also fell cheaply, the Tigers were in real trouble at 6-78.

However, Matt Clothier survived the onslaught and once he got his side past the total he went on to blast an unbeaten 102 while youngster Aidan McKenizie was also unbeaten on 54, helping them to 6-224.

Narrikup B-grade players secure one royal victory

Narrikup remain in the hunt for a finals berth in the Albany Cricket Association B-grade competition after a huge win over Royals in round 12 on Saturday.

Chasing just 170 points to win the match, veteran Aldo Lionetti smashed 147 to guide his side to victory along with talented all-rounder Alec Haskins who made 83.

Layton Taylor (2-17) and Jesse Adams (1-33) were the best of the Royals bowlers as Narrikup reached 7-333, a huge boost for their percentage and increased finals aspirations.

Earlier, promising junior Harry Broomhill compiled an impressive half-century while Adam Tetlow also chipped in with 18 to get their young side past 150.

Paul Lenegan (4-36), Ben Harris (2-29) and Haskins (2-23) were the main destroyers for the winners. Cohen Scott’s unbeaten century was not enough to give North County the points in their match against Manypeaks Black.

The victors finished on 9-241 at the completion of their innings, with North County’s Scott (2-10) best with the ball before he displayed form with the bat.

Scott’s 106 nearly got his side over the line but they reached 9-238, narrowly falling short of victory.

Collingwood Park continued on their winning ways with a 64-run victory over Manypeaks Gold.

Darren Grey (30), Jeremy Sutherland (40) and Peter Westerberg (49) set the tone early for Park which reached 5-176 before Sutherland (3-9) and Grey (2-7) helped bowl Manypeaks Gold out for 112.

In other round-12 matches, Veterans secured a thrilling twowicket win over Warriors while Denmark nearly caused the big upset of the round, going down to Railways by 17 runs.