ADCA 2023-24: Grand final weekend for all grades as Denmark clash with Manypeaks in B-grade decider again

Denmark will chase a rare premiership double when they play off in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association B-grade and C-grade grand finals on Saturday. In what will be a big week for the ADCA with grand finals across both junior and senior competitions, Denmark Cricket Club will be out to win two titles as their B-grade side tackles Manypeaks and C-grade face off against Collingwood Park. The Magpies are the defending B-grade premiers, having won a remarkable decider last season against Peaks where scores were tied at the end of a tense match. It was a breakthrough B-grade title for the club, who withdrew from the A-grade competition after the 2019-20 season. This season the Magpies finished on top of the one-day ladder, won the T20 grand final and were convincing winners of last Saturday’s qualifying final. On the back of remarkable seasons from opener Matt Burton, who has plundered 906 runs across both formats heading into the grand final, and crafty spinner Oliver Pluckhahn with 30 wickets at 13.73 — the Magpies have again been the team to beat. Skipper and former first grade player Campbell Robertson guided his side to the qualifying final victory with 70 not out that was pivotal in beating Park and the Magpies side also contains impressive young talent in Jackson Ross, Ryan Hick and Lochlan Otway. In their two meetings this season, the Magpies and Peaks have one win each. The Magpies claimed the most recent being a six-wicket triumph on turf back on February 3 while in round two of the season Manypeaks made 7-214 after half centuries from Wade Anning and Owen Smith as they went on to claim a 14-run win. Peaks have won their past three games, knocking out Royals in the last round of the season before an elimination final win over Mt Barker and then a preliminary final triumph against Park last Sunday. Top-order batter Bryce Durack will be key to Peaks’ chances as they look to win their first B-grade premiership since 2020-21. Dangerous hitter Gary McGlade and Anning will also play crucial roles with the bat while Anning and swing bowler Brendon Pollard have combined for 39 wickets this season. Spinners Brent Sheridan and McGlade snared six of the nine Park wickets to fall in the preliminary final victory. The B-grade grand final will start at noon at Turf East. Park will be chasing a hat-trick of C-grade premierships when they tackle the Magpies at Hard North from 12.30pm. In last week’s qualifying final an unbeaten 74 from Graeme Weinert lifted Park to a 36-run triumph over their grand final opponents. The Magpies rebounded with a 41-run preliminary final win over Peaks to set up a fifth encounter of the season with Park. Park have won all four of their head-to-head encounters this season. The under-17s grand final will be played between Park and Peaks on Sunday at Turf North from 11.30am after they finished the one-day competition as the top two ranked teams. Railways claimed the under-17 T20 title on Monday by 12 runs in the rescheduled grand final. On Thursday in the ADCA under-14 competition Mt Barker and Redbacks will clash in the T20 grand final from 4.30pm and then the same two sides will meet in the one-day grand final on Saturday morning starting at 7.45am. ALBANY AND DISTRICTS CRICKET ASSOCIATION GRAND FINALS Thursday Under-14 T20 – Redbacks v Mt Barker at Hard North, 4.30pm Saturday Under-14s One-Day – Mt Barker v Redbacks at Turf South, 7.45am A-grade – Mt Barker v Royals at Turf North, 11.30am B-grade – Denmark v Manypeaks at Turf East, noon C-grade – Collingwood Park v Denmark, 12.30pm Sunday Under-17s – Collingwood Park v Manypeaks at Turf North, 11.30am