ADCA 2023-24: Royals find form with crushing 103-run win over Manypeaks ahead of finals series

Royals were afforded the luxury of finding the perfect squad balance heading into finals, according to captain Mitch Green as they ended Manypeaks’ season with a crushing 103-run win at Turf South on Saturday. After losing their past four matches, the Lions found their way back into the winner’s circle after a consummate batting performance behind Green’s superb knock of 85 and all-rounder Matt France’s unbeaten 76 in round 21 of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition. Green’s sublime knock came from just 93 balls and included six fours and two sixes while France piled on his unbeaten 76 from just 71 balls behind three fours and two sixes to set up a big score of 6-250 batting first. The Lions were cemented in second on the ladder which Green believed provided an opportunity to experiment with his side to form the perfect balance ahead of finals. “We have been tinkering with what our best 12 is and that includes the batting order,” he said. “Having Ted (Batchelor) back in the middle order provides us a bit of a surety as a more experienced head and I think it gives us a good mix so if we do lose a couple of early wickets we have some senior players in Ted and Matt France through the middle order. “Strengthening up that middle order has been a key focus for us the last few weeks.” The Lions welcomed back classy top-order player Lincoln Joy but the cavalier opener was dismissed for 17 as his side fell to 3-55. Ted Batchelor found form after being shuffled down the order, adding 20 alongside captain Green, and the pair put on 55 for the fourth wicket. Green and France continued their dominance with a 71-run fifth-wicket stand before Oliver Douglas dismissed Green. France then combined with Lorcan McNamara (12 not out) for a 55-run stand to close out the innings. Green said it was encouraging for his side to put a complete performance together after lapses during moments in matches through their last month had been their undoing. “It’s certainly good to get back on the winner’s list,” he said. “We haven’t been taking advantage of the key moments over the last few weeks and we’ve been in winning positions in all of those games but we haven’t taken those key moments. “We haven’t performed up to expectations so we’re really trying to build partnerships and we were able to do that on the weekend. “Most of our top order had a good hit so again sort of just sets us up well for this weekend.” Peaks’ Paul Donaldson made a successful return from a calf injury to return 2-41 from 10 overs. In response, Peaks’ top order was unable to convert a number of starts into substantial scores, before being rolled in the 40th over for 147. Cam Walsh top scored with 35 while Kane Pinney contributed 30 after Seb Stanton chipped in with 20 at the top of the order. It was the Lions’ spinners who did most of the damage as Rhys Lewis snared 4-20 from six overs while Angus Thompson pinched two wickets from his 10 overs. Returning young quick Teague Valli took two wickets in a successful first A-grade game of the season for the winners.