ADCA 2024-25: Destructive bowling display lifts Mt Barker to bonus point demolition of Manypeaks

Mt Barker registered their first points of the season with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Manypeaks in round two on Saturday. The Bulls were grand finalists last season but went down in the opening round of the new Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition. They responded in commanding fashion as they thumped Peaks at Turf South. The bonus point win was set up by a clinical bowling performance, with the Bulls snaring six early wickets to rattle a feeble Peaks batting line-up. Spearhead and captain Jeremy Wood removed openers Regan Poett (0) and Seb Stanton (4) and in his first game of the season since arriving from the UK, Jack Pope bowled both Cameron Walsh and Kane Pinney. Peaks were reeling at 4-11 and things got worse when Ryan Kinnear and Ben Southern fell in consecutive deliveries to seamer Ryan Gaerth. Brothers Warwick and Bryce Durack shared in a 28-run stand to offer some resistance but the Bulls’ pressure was relentless. Bright young talent Max Osborne had Warwick Durack stumped for 24 after a patient 56-ball innings and Brent Sheridan was then undone by Jarrad Gardner for two. Osborne picked up a second scalp when he bowled Bryce Durack for 25 and despite a late cameo of 15 from Oliver Douglas, Peaks were skittled for 102 in the 43rd over. Wood returned outstanding figures of 3-9 from 5.1 overs and he had plenty of support, with Pope impressing as a new ball bowler with 2-13. Osborne (2-19) and Gaerth (2-13) also proved difficult for Peaks to counter. The Bulls got the run chase off to solid start as veteran Alex Fergie combined with young Osborne to slowly chew into the target. Fergie hit four boundaries in his knock of 39 from 54 balls before he was dismissed by spinner and Peaks debutant Liam Davies. Osborne then partnered with the vastly experienced Neil Ferreira as the Bulls cruised to victory. Ferreira hit four boundaries in his unbeaten 25 while a compact Osborne was not troubled at the top of the order and finished with 33 not out from 77 balls to steer his side past the total in the 27th over. Davies, who played WA Premier Cricket with Midland-Guildford, snared the lone wicket and finished with 1-22 from six overs. Young quick Douglas bowled with great pace and control, with three of his seven overs being maidens, but Peaks simply didn’t have enough runs to play with.