Manypeaks back in business

Manypeaks surged 10 points clear in second place on the Albany Cricket Association A-grade standings after a double-bonus-point rout of Mt Barker on Saturday afternoon all but assured them a place in this season’s finals series.

Locked in a terrific four-way battle for three finals spots, Peaks made a bright start with the blade, mainly thanks to new opener Casey Ganzer, who delivered a couple of lusty blows in his entertaining 28.

Warwick Durack helped hold the middle part of the innings together, scoring 28 off 73 balls until he was undone by Noah Middleton on 28, but a late cameo from Jack Dawson helped Peaks reach 8-145 from their 50 overs.

The introduction of Jeremy Wood had immediate effect for the Bulls as he knocked over Ganzer and Harry Broomhall (0) in his first three overs and then snared Dom O’Reilly and Regan Poett later on to finish with 4-16 from his 10.

Dawson proved the tormentor for the Bulls after coming in at No.8 for Peaks and playing freely on his way to 38 and pushing them towards 150.

The Bulls’ top order crumbled, though, as Durack produced a brilliant spell, taking four of the first five wickets.

Clayton Wood was caught behind on 7 before Durack destroyed the bulk of the Bulls’ batsmen, bowling trio Alex Fergie, Nathan Crosby and Jeremy Wood and then also snaring Darcy Wallinger in a defining three overs.

The Bulls had slumped to 5-23 and they never recovered, Harry Broomhall and Dom O’Reilly helping dismiss the lower order cheaply.

Phil Baker (18) and Jye Williss (10) were the only two Bulls batsmen to reach double figures in their lowly total of 68 as Durack returned 4-13 from 10 overs in a starring man-of-the-match role.

Peaks’ 77-run triumph came with two bonus points as they consolidated second place with two rounds remaining.

Meanwhile at Turf North, Railways survived a big scare against Collingwood Park as they won nine wickets down.

They were chasing 125 to win, Collingwood Park finishing their reduced 45-over innings at 4-124 on the back of Nathan Dovey (45) and Leroy van den Dool (25).

Park were right in the contest when Coen Marwick, Nathan Crudeli and Matt Walters all went quickly to leave their side 4-33.

Zane Marwick and young keeper Aidan Dallimore combined for a 58-run fifth-wicket partnership to get the run chase back on track.

The game came to life when Ben Grey removed Zane Marwick on 42 and the match was precariously placed at 7-101 after the dismissals of Hayden Davies (4) and Dallimore (20).

Jack Richards and Tim Edmunds edged the Tigers to the brink of victory, however Nic Barrow snared both — Edmunds’ wicket coming with scores tied.

No.11 Hasnain Nawaz survived the final ball of Barrow’s fourth over and then Ryan Tindale clipped Grey’s third ball of the next over to square leg to win the game and end Park’s finals aspirations.

The Tigers prevailed by a wicket in the 41st over to make it 10 consecutive wins.