Country Cup triumph goes right down to the wire as Albany and Districts claim victory with one ball to spare

Albany and Districts Cricket Association secured a thrilling last-gasp victory to keep their Country Cup title hopes alive on Sunday. In a rain-affected round-two clash with Peel Cricket Association, Albany and Districts claimed a tense two-wicket win with just one ball to spare. The result leaves all four teams with one win to their name heading into the final round of qualifying matches in February. Heading into the final over, ADCA required three runs for victory with Charlie Walters and Ryan Kinnear at the crease. Kinnear chipped a ball for a single and the next ball was a dot before Walters hit a single to level the scores with three balls remaining in the last over. However Kinnear was bowled leaving the job up to Josh Dallimore with two balls remaining and he calmly hit the ball to cover, scrambling through for a single to secure the memorable victory. The ADCA were set 134 for victory off a revised 29 overs under the Duckworth Lewis method after play was delayed for more than an hour due to rain. Earlier on Peel posted 9-181 from their 50 overs led by a half century to Josh Rudge and an unbeaten 48 from Kane Standing. Peel enjoyed a terrific start and cruised to 0-69 at the first drinks break before Ryan Kinnear struck in his first over removing Jordan Bell for 16. Rudge did the bulk of the scoring in the opening partnership before Hayden Davies produced a superb caught and bowled, dismissing Rudge for 52 from 76 balls. Peel lost 7-50 late in the innings with Ben Grey, Davies and Kinnear stemming the run flow and fast bowler Josh Dallimore was on a hat-trick at one stage. Scott Martin was caught by Fergie and then next ball Dallimore ripped through Stewart McLean’s defence but his hat-trick ball was left alone by Alex Cowan. Standing provided some late hitting as he finished on 48 but Albany and Districts hauled themselves into a winnable position thanks to impressive spells from Hayden Davies (2-24 from 10 overs), Dallimore (2-31 from nine), Grey (2-32 from 10) and Kinnear (2-38 from 10). Rain fell at the innings break and after a lengthy delay Albany and Districts set about their task, needing more than four runs per over. Alex Fergie got the chase off to a bright start and they were on track despite losing Ted Batchelor cheaply. Ryan Davies joined Fergie and that pair had the home side in the box seat before Ryan Davies was run out after hesitating mid-pitch and then captain Jeremy Wood was dismissed for five to leave the game back in the balance. When Fergie departed for 52 Albany and Districts fell to 4-92 in the 18th over but Charlie Walters played a mature innings and as the wickets fell around him the teenager kept a cool head. With three overs left Albany and Districts needed 12 to win and then 10 from the final 12 deliveries. In a pivotal moment, Walters stood tall and whacked a ball over mid-wicket to find the boundary and leave his side needing only three runs to win in the final over. Walters finished unbeaten on 28 off 41 balls to play a vital role in the home side’s victory. Wood said the win had a lot of merit. “It was a pretty gutsy performance from all of the boys, we were probably a bit undermanned but very proud of a couple of efforts from the boys,” he said. “It’s really good for some young blokes to experience that, winning in those positions isn’t easy, so getting the job done will give them a lot of confidence. “Going over to Bunbury will be sudden-death so it gives everyone something to aim for. I think we fielded and bowled really well. “Hayden Davies and Ben Grey did a great job with the ball and Ryan Kinnear really stemmed the flow of runs in that middle period because they were cruising. “That was probably a key part of us being in the game I think.”