Dovey’s double century gives Park finals hope

In-form Collingwood Park batsman Nathan Dovey has produced a clutch double century to keep his sides hopes of claiming third spot alive, as Park recorded a 208-run victory against Denmark in the penultimate round of the Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition on Sunday.

The third and final spot on the ladder will come down to the final round on March 11 after just percentage separates Park and North County following the weekend’s double header of fixtures.

Dovey was instrumental in Park’s massive innings total of 352, which has propelled them back into third spot courtesy of the healthy boost to their percentage.

County reclaimed third place on Saturday night after winning their round 16 contest with Park, a fifth win of the season taking them to 36 points.

However, Park hit back on Sunday with County having the bye as they too chalked up a fifth win to also move to 36 points but their superior percentage has them in third place.

Park have the bye in the final home and away, round while County meet Railways in a match that will determine who reaches the finals.

Dovey amassed 20 sixes and 13 fours on his way to an unbeaten 225 runs, which is believed to be the highest score ever recorded in an ACA A-grade match.

After early wickets had fallen Dovey was joined at the crease by captain Tim Pyle as the pair went about chasing down Denmark’s score of 144.

This was achieved in the 31st over and marked the beginning of Dovey’s onslaught.

This season the ACA returned to its traditional system of allowing teams to play on once a match has been decided, giving them an opportunity to improve their percentage.

In the final 19 overs, Park piled on 201 runs as Dovey decimated Denmark’s bowling attack.

Dovey took Fynn Underwood and Matt Burton for 23 runs each off an over as he went about boosting Park’s percentage.

Park’s final total of 5-352 from their 50 overs leaves them with a 2.09 percent ahead of County on the ladder.

The amazing innings comes on the back of Dovey blasting a 44-ball century in the Toyota Country Cup qualifiers against Upper Great Southern last weekend where he smacked nine sixes in his sensational 105.

The 32-year-old has scored 490 runs this season at A-grade level at an average of 44.5 and his 225 not out surpasses the feat of Railways’ Matt Walters who scored an unbeaten 204 against the Magpies back in round 8 this season.