ADCA 2023-24: Unbeaten Railways go big with the bat in demolition of Collingwood Park in round two clash

Railways notched two wins last season, but the club has needed just a fortnight in the 2023-24 Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition to equal that feat. The Tigers have started the new season in terrific fashion, as they backed up their round one triumph over reigning premiers Mt Barker with a 74-run demolition of Collingwood Park on Saturday. Half centuries from Coen Marwick and young import Joe Stanley helped the Tigers surpass 200 batting first before veteran seamer Ryan Tindale claimed two prized scalps to dent Park’s hopes with the bat. Chasing 245 to win, Park made a solid start with captain Brad Bootsma hitting four boundaries in his 23 from 21 balls before he was bowled by Ryan Tindale. It didn’t take long for Park’s second wicket to fall, prized recruit Michael Ferreira caught by Lachlan Tindale off the bowling of Ryan Tindale for a duck. When Milan Jaggi crashed into the stumps to dismiss Jed Schwarzbach for one, Park had slipped to 3-40. Young opener Devon Jefferis and English all-rounder Cameron Jones steadied the chase with a 33-run stand before Jones fell to Jack Banks. Jefferis continued to chip away for Park, finding plenty of gaps as he worked his way towards a half century. Buddy Robinson (11) fell in the second spell from Marwick and Park debutant Andrew Hagnhofer made 10 before he was removed by spinner Lachlan Tindale. Jefferis reached a deserved half century and shared in a 56-run stand with fellow teenager O’Shea Durack but the required run rate became too much in the final 10 overs. Park finished on 6-170 in reply from 42 overs, after being penalised three overs for a slow over rate when bowling. Jefferis top-scored with a terrific 75 not out from 120 balls while Durack was unbeaten on 17. The Tigers however marched to a second straight win, as Ryan Tindale finished with 2-29 from eight overs. Milan Jaggi (1-30 from eight) and Marwick (1-40 from nine) were also vital for the winners. Earlier Marwick fell five runs short of scoring the first A-grade century of the season. The aggressive right-hander belted 10 fours and two sixes in his destructive innings at No.3. Marwick was 95 not out from 72 balls while strong contributions from overseas player Joe Stanley (51), opener Billy O’Meara (36) and youngster Milan Jaggi (24 not out) ensured the Tigers set a daunting total after winning the toss and batting first. O’Meara and Mohit Jaggi set a solid platform after a 49-run first wicket partnership but Marwick and Stanley took the game away from Park as they scored at better than a run a ball. Stanley and Marwick put on 93 runs before Stanley became the second scalp for Jones. The Tigers skipper blasted his way towards three figures in the final five overs as his side reached 3-244 from their 45 overs. Jones was the only multiple wicket taker for Park with 2-43 from his nine overs, while Ferreira was extremely hard to get away, his five overs going for just three runs.