Bulls outlast Manypeaks to keep their dreams of an automatic grand final alive in ADCA A-grade competition

Mt Barker continued their relentless pursuit of a first-place finish in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition with a gritty 35-run bonus-point win over Manypeaks at Turf North on Sunday. The win gives the red-hot Bulls a shot at directly advancing to the grand final if they defeat Royals in the final round this Saturday. Heading into round 14, the reigning premiers were 11 points adrift of top side Royals, who had the bye, and the Bulls grabbed their chance to move within reach of the top spot and set up a tantalising round 15 clash between the two sides. With only four points separating the pair, the team that wins the round 15 clash will finish atop the ladder and directly qualify for the A-grade decider on March 18, while the second-placed team will square off against Collingwood Park in the preliminary final on March 11. Bulls star Nathan Crudeli once again showed his knack for performing in big games, smashing an unbeaten 89 runs as his side posted 171 batting first. Paul Donaldson nearly spoiled the party for the Bulls in the chase, pulling his side back into contention with a fighting 75-run knock. Peaks were sitting pretty at 5-130 with 45 balls to spare in the run chase but their tail collapsed to lose 5-6 and they were handed a seventh 50-over loss of the season. Ryan Kinnear (7) skied a delivery from Alex Fergie towards mid-wicket, with Seth Davis taking a simple catch to trigger the collapse. The all-important wicket of Donaldson fell cruelly, caught short of his crease after an attempted quick single with Oliver Douglas went wrong. Douglas (0) suffered the same fate just three balls later to be run out before Fergie caught Kane Pinney off his own bowling with the very next delivery. Fergie had his fifth wicket of the contest with the last ball of the 45th over, trapping Jeremy Stewart in front for a duck as Peaks finished all out for 136. Fergie was outstanding with the ball to finish with bowling figures of 5-35 from 7.5 overs and he was well supported by spinner Paul Osborne (2-25) and the economical Jeremy Wood (0-19 off 10 overs). Donaldson was superb in a losing affair, working the ball around nicely all afternoon to finish with three fours and four sixes. Earlier on the Bulls were anchored by a dominant performance from Crudeli, who had contributions from Jeremy Wood (17) and Clayton Wood (18). Fergie (0) was dismissed with the fifth ball he faced before Neil Ferreira (14), Jeremy Wood, Clayton Wood and Jonte Eastough (14) all departed to leave their side 5-122. The Bulls were in further trouble after the loss of Graham Wright (3), Davis (0) and Darren Parkes (0) but Crudeli showed great urgency towards the back end of the innings, smashing three sixes and one four in the final eight overs to finish unbeaten on 89 from 122 balls. Peaks’ James Bottomley (3-21) and James Stewart (3-40) toiled hard for the losing side, while veteran Ryan Kinenar chipped in with 2-33.