Trio propel Park to important victory

Half-centuries to Nathan Dovey and Jesse Spaanderman and a hat-trick from spinner Paul Barnett have helped Collingwood Park leap back into second place on the Albany Cricket Association A-grade standings after eight rounds.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Park compiled a difficult total for the Bulldogs to chase courtesy of a strong performance from their top order that began with an 89-run stand between Spaanderman and Matt Heberle.

The opening pair hit regular boundaries and frustrated the Bulldogs bowlers before Spaanderman fell to Graeme Weinert after notching his maiden A-grade half century.

Heberle was the next to go on 44 but Park had a solid foundation set at 2-112 nearing the halfway make of the innings.

Dovey hit a six with his second scoring shot before playing a tempered role as he anchored the remainder of Park’s innings to help them past 200.

As wickets fell around him Dovey continued to tick the score along and he hit Fabian Bolton for three sixes in 45th over only to get caught attempting another big shot off the last ball of that very over to depart on 66.

In reply, the Bulldogs made a solid start with Craig Tonkin and Michael Ferreira combining for 58 but they lost three quick wickets as the latter fell on 11, Justin Taylor made 3 and Broomhall departed on 3 following a brilliant catch from Leroy van den Dool.

Matthew Ferreira joined Tonkin and they steadied the ship with a 48-run fourth wicket partnership until Barnett struck to end any hope of a Bulldogs victory.

Barnett dismissed Matthew Ferreira on 21 with the last ball of his fifth over and then claimed the prize wickets of Neil Ferreira (5) and Tonkin (74) with the first two deliveries of his sixth over.

Park failed to realise Barnett’s feat at the time but the damage was done as the Bulldogs were reduced to 6-130 and were all out soon after for 143 as they slumped to fourth straight defeat.

Barnett finished with 4-30 while Heberle bowled an important 10 over spell to take 2-38.