Collingwood Park push for fourth spot

A fighting performance with the ball from Collingwood Park has helped them secure a fifth straight win in a further boost to their finals hopes, putting added pressure on Denmark with two regular rounds to play.

Park, the Magpies and North County appear set to fight out fourth position in the final two rounds of the normal season in the Merrifield Real Estate Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition.

Up against Mt Barker in their round 15 clash at Turf West on Saturday afternoon, Park did their chances of securing a finals berth no harm. However, they did it the hard way after being bowled out for 110 batting first.

Park successfully defended the small total, in a game where all 20 wickets fell for just 166 runs, and picked up another vital bonus point to again force their way into the top four.

Seam bowler Ben Carter snared two early wickets, bowling opener Nathan Crosby for three and then beating Dean Couper’s defences and when Alex Fergie was skittled for five by paceman Ben Grey, his side were 3-17.

Carter then removed Luke Hammond without scoring and after some brief resistance, Jeremy Wood (16) became his fourth scalp of a quickly turning match.

Philip Baker was trapped lbw by Grey with the Bulls in a big hole at 6-36 and they never recovered as Park skipper Tim Pyle snared 3-6 in three destructive overs to help bowl them out for 56.

Carter was sensational with 4-18 from his 10 overs to go with Grey (2-28 off 10) as Park recorded a 54-run win to jump into third place, albeit for a brief period once again.

Much like last week, Park were bumped down the standings after round 16 on Sunday but they remain inside the top four this time, five points ahead of the Magpies who have just one game left to play.

Earlier Park scratched their way to 110 in 40.4 overs after Jacob Wintle and Wood caused plenty of headaches in the top order.

Wintle took 3-21 and Wood claimed the prize wicket of Nathan Dovey on 11 but a defiant knock from Matt Heberle ensured Park surpassed 100.

Heberle combined with a number of tailenders to tick the score along with small but meaningful partnerships, before he was finally undone by Crosby on 26.

Park very much have fate in their own hands with matches against Manypeaks and then the Magpies to come.