Double bonus point win has Mt Barker on cusp of grand final berth in Albany and Districts Cricket Association

Mt Barker surged further clear on top of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade standings to all but secure a place in next month’s grand final. The Bulls essentially top spot with victory over Railways in round 11, as they now sit 27 points clear of the second-placed Royals with four rounds left in the regular season. Mathematically, the Bulls could be knocked from top spot, if they lose their final three matches and Royals win their final four games with bonus points. Alex Fergie led from the front in their nine-wicket double bonus point win over the Tigers at Turf South on Saturday. The Tigers were bowled out for just 131 batting first and it only took the Bulls 22.3 overs to chase down the total to record their eighth one-day win. Fergie posted an unbeaten half century to go with two vital wickets. The Bulls had a 48-run opening partnership between Fergie and Paul Osborne, with Fergie doing the bulk of the scoring before Osborne was dismissed for seven runs. However, that didn’t halt the Bulls’ momentum as Adam Ditchburn and Fergie shared in a dashing 84-run stand. The pair went at more than a run a ball as they ensured the Bulls won easily. Fergie finished unbeaten on 64 off 75 balls and Ditchburn made an important knock heading into the finals with 48 off 31 after being promoted up the order. Earlier on the Tigers couldn’t post a defendable total despite a half century stand between brothers Ryan and Hayden Davies. Craig Anning snared the big wicket of Coen Marwick in the second over of the match. Billy O’Meara provided some resistance before he was dismissed for 17 and Mohit Jaggi departed soon after. The Davies brothers added 57 together before Fergie struck, bowling Hayden Davies to break the partnership. Hayden Davies was removed for 23 and then Fergie had Ryan Davies caught for 33 before Jordan Gibbs was run out as the Tigers crumbled to 6-95. Milan Jaggi (20) added some late runs but the Tigers were undone by the bowling of Steven Scott (3-23), Fergie (2-21) and Anning (2-21). Meanwhile games involving Denmark in B-grade and C-grade were postponed on Saturday due to the Denmark bushfires.