Bulldogs back to third spot

North County have capitalised on another poor batting display from Manypeaks, jumping to their sixth A-grade win of the season and strengthening their finals hopes after a 62-run victory at Turf East in the Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition on Saturday afternoon.

Peaks registered 58 with the bat last week and their round 14 effort was only slightly better after all-rounders Warwick Durack and Dom O’Reilly rescued the innings from disaster.

The Bulldogs batted first and had strong top-order contributions from their first four batsmen to set their rivals a difficult 155 to win.

The top four all made starts with captain Neil Ferreira (29) and English all-rounder Riecko Parker-Cole (21) leading the way while a late cameo from Weinert helped them surpass 150.

Jeremy Stewart (3-26), Trent Nesbitt (2-26) and O’Reilly (1-27) were the pick of the Peaks bowlers.

But again the Peaks batsmen came undone as they lost promoted opener Tim Shephard for a duck in Graeme Weinert’s first over.

Weinert struck again in the fifth over of the match as he dismissed Harry Broomhall on four and then bowled Seb Stanton with the very next ball.

Peaks slumped to 4-16 when captain Aran Tilbury edged one to the keeper to give young seamer James Plowman his first scalp.

Inclusion Jack Dawson (2) and Regan Poett (5) both had a short stay as the collapse continued, leaving their side 6-24 and in desperate need of a partnership.

Durack and O’Reilly were able to halt the carnage, sharing in a 40-run seventh wicket stand that helped them past last week’s small total.

English import O’Reilly fell to Boston Cavanagh for 16 and the tail provided little resistance. Durack made his way to 32 as his team’s top scorer before he was the last man out.

Weinert was superb with 4-12 from 10 overs, including four maidens while spinner Paul Osborne (2-13), Cavanagh (2-22) and Plowman (2-18) were also crucial in bowling Peaks out for 92.

The bonus point victory shot the Bulldogs into third spot with games against Royals, Railways and Denmark to determine their finals fate.