Collingwood Park left to rue top-order collapse as Royals cash in to jump into second spot

A top-order batting collapse from Collingwood Park swung their crucial round six clash back in Royals’ favour, as the latter jumped to second place after finishing 31-run winners on Saturday. The Lions notched their third win of the season as a result of prevailing in the important clash that headlined Cobba’s Round. Chasing 187 for victory, Park got off to a commanding start as they scored at nearly six runs an over and appeared to have the game in control thanks to some lusty hitting from Matt Heberle and Ben Grey. However, the game swung back quickly in the Lions’ favour as Park lost 5-20. Heberle and Grey shared in a 63-run partnership before Grey was removed for 24 by Lions youngster Ryley Valli. Marcus Mellon dismissed the dangerous Heberle for 43 runs off 41 balls, and that brought the big-hitting Nathan Dovey to the crease. Dovey tucked a ball of his pads for four the first ball before Mellon struck again with wicketkeeper Jack Steel taking a great catch behind the stumps the very next ball. Consecutive maidens built the pressure and then Valli snared a double breakthrough in the same over. He bowled Leroy van den Dool (6) and three balls later trapped Jarrod Hansen lbw for a duck as Park crumbled to 5-83. Mitch Woods and debutant Rory Luscombe added 30 runs before Luscombe was dismissed and then a 35-run stand from Woods and Dustin Boyce got their side closer to victory. Woods was caught and bowled by David Brown for 38 to effectively end Park’s winning hopes at 7-148 and they were all out for 155 in the 46th over. Valli claimed 4-30 off 7.5 overs and Mellon (2-28) claimed the two major scalps while Brown finished with 2-24. The Lions set up the match-winning total after an impressive innings from Ted Batchelor, that was well supported by Valli (32) and Jack Steel (28). Lions captain Mitch Green (12) was removed cheaply but Batchelor was the aggressor in a great third-wicket partnership with Valli worth 52 runs. Batchelor hit eight boundaries in his 43 from 65 balls before he fell to Heberle. Jack Steel ensured his side would surpass 150 and then a late cameo from Tyler Crommelin (16 from 14 balls) guided them to 186 batting first. Grey finished with 4-38 off 9.2 overs while Heberle was impressive with 3-14 from six overs, two of which were maidens.