ADCA 2023-24: Railways turn tables to win a final-over thriller, Mt Barker hand Royals first loss of season

For the second straight week Railways took their game to the final over but they were successful this time around, while Royals suffered their first loss of the season in a high-scoring affair with reigning premiers Mt Barker on Saturday. Round seven of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association produced two cracking contests, as Collingwood Park fell short in the final over against the Tigers while the Bulls prevailed in a game where nearly 450 runs were scored. The Tigers went down in a final-over thriller last week at the hands of the Bulls but they turned the tables at Turf South as they restricted Park to just three runs in the final over on the way to securing a tense six-run triumph. In their pursuit of 219 to win, half centuries to seasoned all-rounder Michael Ferreira and youngster O’Shea Durack had Park in the game. Skipper Brad Bootsma scored a vital 26 before he fell to Coen Marwick in the 46th over with Park needing 21 runs to win. Marwick snared the ninth wicket when he bowed Dylan Belward (3) in the 48th over as Park moved to 9-206. Premiership player Julian Crudeli, who made a surprise return to Tigers colours, bowled the penultimate over of the innings that went for just three runs. That left Park requiring 10 runs to win from the final over with Tigers skipper Marwick taking the responsibility to bowl it. Two singles and then a leg bye from the first three deliveries had all the pressure on Park and then Marwick bowled a dot ball to tailender Ben Grey. Grey was bowled on the fifth ball of the final over, sparking jubilant scenes for the Tigers as they secured a fourth win of 2023-24. Marwick didn’t bowl until the 36th over and had immediate effect, removing Durack for a patient 54. His 7.5 over spell was decisive in the result, claiming 5-30 as Park were bowled out for 212 in reply. Englishman Cameron Jones nearly lifted Park to an unlikely victory with 30 not out but his side was unable to make it three wins in a row. Julian Crudeli snared 2-37 in his first game of the season while spinners Joe Stanley (1-32) and Lachlan Tindale (1-36) were vital in the middle overs. Earlier Lachlan Tindale and Julian Crudeli made sizeable contributions as the Tigers surpassed 200. Lachlan Tindale hit seven boundaries and top scored with 54 while Julian Crudeli made 42 from only 48 balls, the pair sharing in a 57-run stand. Jones snared three early breakthroughs, including the key wicket of Marwick (1), while Grey ran out Stanley on 18. Michael Ferreira then ripped through the lower order, taking 5-38 from 9.4 overs to restrict the Tigers to 218. Meanwhile at Turf North the Lions’ winning streak came to an end, as the Bulls defended 237. Alex Fergie came very close to scoring the first century in A-grade this season but his brilliant partnership with Neil Ferreira set the tone for the Bulls 36-run win. Fergie blasted 96 and Neil Ferreira made 50, the pair sharing in a 150-run stand that took the game away from the Lions. Neil Ferreira was run out by Angus Thompson and after an innings that included 13 fours and one six, Fergie fell to Rhys Lewis four runs short of his ton. Nathan Crudeli made an unbeaten 45 but the Bulls had a middle order collapse, losing 6-44. However the Bulls still made 8-237 from their 50 overs as Lewis returned 1-26 from 10 and Mitch Green chipped in with three wickets. Nathan Crudeli ripped through the Lions’ top order, claiming the huge wicket of Green in the first over for a duck. He then had Ted Batchelor (6), Lincoln Joy (21) and Ryley Valli (0) all back in the pavilion as the Lions limped to 4-31. Ryan Davies, Rhys Lewis and Angus Thompson all got starts but when Jack Hastie fell for one, the Lions were in all sorts of trouble at 8-120. A defiant innings from all-rounder Matt France gave the Lions a silly chance of victory however, smashing a rapid 72 from just 69 balls. France hit five maximums and had a 62-run partnership with Matt Thompson to add some respectability for the Lions. Jarrad Gardner (2-21) eventually had France caught in the deep and Harry Forsyth and Matt Thompson added 19 more runs before Jarrad Gardner snared the final wicket. The Lions were bowled out for 201 with still more than five overs left in the innings as they suffered their first loss of the campaign. Nathan Crudeli was outstanding with 4-22 from nine overs while Paul Osborne took 3-19.