ADCA 2023-24: English young gun fires as Railways knock off reigning premiers Mt Barker in round one upset

Railways captain Coen Marwick says beating reigning premiers Mt Barker in the first round of the season has instilled plenty of belief in his young group early in the new Albany and Districts Cricket Association season. The Tigers stunned the Bulls at Turf South on Saturday, producing a memorable two-wicket win to start the new A-grade competition. Led by talented English all-rounder Joe Stanley, who claimed three wickets and then was unbeaten with the bat, the Tigers chased down 130 in their opening round victory. Marwick said it was a big step for his side, who last season won just two games and have struggled against the Bulls. “A win like this in round one verse the reigning premiers is special,” he said. “We haven’t looked like touching Mt Barker in multiple years now but to knock them off it just creates belief in our young group. “The young guys now see and believe that it’s possible, they see those top teams are human too. “I don’t think we have won a game in the first eight or nine rounds in three years now so to claim one first round builds confidence early in the year and it really gives the group something to play for each week going forward.” The Bulls, who are chasing a third straight A-grade title, were restricted to 129 all out as only former Tiger Nathan Crudeli (43 not out) and returning opener Nathan Crosby (22) made significant contributions with the bat. Stanley was superb with the ball, snaring 3-22, and veteran seamer Ryan Tindale did the early damage with 3-21 as the Tigers sniffed an upset. Brothers Milan and Mohit Jaggi fell cheaply and when Bulls captain Jeremy Wood had his Tigers counterpart caught for 16, the game swung back in the Bulls favour. The Tigers were 3-43 when their skipper was dismissed and the loss of Caleb Haua for a duck and Billy O’Meara for two left their side with plenty of work to do at 5-52. Stanley, however, was up to the task as he shared in a defiant 29-run stand with Lachlan Tindale to get their side towards triple figures. Tindale was removed for 17 from 33 but Stanley held the Tigers’ chase together. A 15-run partnership with Sam Slater got the Tigers closer to the target and then teenager Harry McLeod showed determination beyond his years to stick with Stanley. Stanley finished unbeaten on 49 and McLeod played a vital cameo at No.10 with six not out from 32 balls as the Tigers won by two wickets with nine balls to spare. Jeremy Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 3-22 for the Bulls. Marwick praised the performance of Stanely, the Worcestershire academy captain, enjoying a memorable first outing in Australia. “Joe’s performance was incredible, obviously three wickets and 49 not out is good numbers but it was more than that,” Marwick said. “The maturity and high level cricket IQ he displayed in controlling the run chase and batting with the tail was of a level way beyond an 18-year-old. “On the weekend we executed really well, bowled with plans, got Nath (Crudeli) off strike as much as we could and built pressure on the other guys, simple cricket but executed really well.”