ADCA 2023-24: Mt Baker confirmed grand finalists after Royals loss, Railways’ finals hopes ended in A-grade

Railways’ bid to play finals is officially over and Mt Barker have secured a grand final berth after a pulsating round 20 of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition on Saturday. Collingwood Park’s victory over Royals at Turf South handed Bulls the minor premiership and direct entry into the decider on March 23 while the Tigers loss to Manypeaks means they dropped out of the top three and were eliminated from the finals race. A Michael Ferreira-anchored innings helped Park score their second-highest one-day total of the season against the second-placed Lions. After stumbling to 2-8 inside three overs, Park recovered from the worrying start and finished their 50 overs at 9-183 before rolling the Lions for 159 to win by 24 runs. Ferreira scored a match-high 52 runs, perfectly anchoring Park’s innings, and his patient 91-ball stay included several key partnerships. Captain Mitch Jackson (26) and Jed Schwarzbach (17) contributed a vital 36-run third-wicket stand to drag their side out of a hole before Ferriera strolled to the crease and played a decisive knock. Sam Keeling-Wright (23) joined Ferreira at the crease as the pair added 41 for the sixth wicket before the in-from batter was assisted by Kobus Wessels (19) to contribute a further 47 runs for the seventh wicket. Lorcan McNamara was pick of the Lions’ bowlers with 3-14 from seven overs while Matt France and Rhys Lewis each snared two wickets. In their defence, Park got an immediate breakthrough as Keeling-Wright claimed Lions opener Ted Batchelor (2) with the fourth ball of the innings before adding the scalp of Lewis to his tally in the seventh over. At 2-26, Ryley Valli (22) and Mitch Green (33) toiled for a 54-run third-wicket stand before Ferreira followed on from his superb batting effort and removed Valli. When Green fell to Schwarzbach and France (15) and McNamara (0) departed soon after, the Lions found themselves 6-118 and in desperate need of a partnership. Angus Thompson (18) and Ryan Davies (14) added 19 for the seventh wicket before they were each dismissed within five balls of each other. An injured Jack Hastie batted with a runner and provided some resistance with 13 but the Lions fell short as they were bowled out inside 42 overs. In the other A-grade fixture, a swashbuckling knock from Peaks’ George Sippe handed his side a clutch two-wicket win over the Tigers at Turf North. The result leaves the Tigers outside the top three and they have the bye in the final round of the season. At 7-134 chasing 190 for victory with eight overs to go, Sippe belted 38 runs from 24 deliveries which included two fours and four sixes as he and Ryan Kinear (21 not out) contributed a match-winning 48-run eighth-wicket partnership. Peaks’ tail also found a key contribution from No.8 Jakob Douglas who scored 23 with two fours and two sixes. Peaks captain Regan Poett (18) and Seb Stanton (26) posted 47 for the opening stand before each fell to veteran seamer Ryan Tindale. When Tigers’ Heath Caldwell claimed Cam Walsh (14) and Ben Southern (0) in successive balls and then Sam Slater dismissed Kane Pinney (33) and Oliver Douglas (10), they lost 4-30 and slumped to 6-109. Caldwell, Ryan Tindale and Slater each took two wickets for the Tigers. Earlier the Tigers won the toss and elected to bat and captain Coen Marwick led his side’s innings with a classy 62 from 60 balls. Marwick belted seven fours and two over the rope in his superb knock before being trapped in front by Oliver Douglas. Mitchell T’Hart (21) and Caleb Haua (36) were not able to convert on their impressive starts and their side were all out for 189 in the 46th over. Oliver Douglas claimed 3-32 from eight overs while Southern, Walsh and Kinnear each claimed two wickets.