Heberle and Dovey lay foundations for Park’s win

Collingwood Park have bolstered their hopes of returning to finals action after downing Mt Barker by five wickets in their round 10 Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade fixture on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls’ finals chances are slipping away after they were unable to defend 184, as fourth-placed Park skipped 19 points clear of the Bulls with five rounds left to play. A 95-run partnership from acting captain Nathan Crosby and former Zimbabwean Test opener Neil Ferreira helped the Bulls set a solid total batting first. After the early loss of Alex Fergie and Tim Shephard, Crosby and Ferreira anchored the innings with half centuries. Crosby whacked three fours and three sixes in his knock of 65 off 64 balls before falling to Ricky Weight with the Bulls 3-148. Ferreira kept going, as he too passed 50 despite batsmen falling around him. Tim Pyle dismissed Ferreira for 58 off 70 and the Bulls had moved to 7-176 but they lost their last six wickets for just 10 runs to be all out for 184. Weight claimed 3-31 while Tim Pyle and Steve Van Nierop chipped in with two apiece. Park fell to 3-51 in the chase before Matt Heberle and Nathan Dovey changed the game with a 90-run stand. Heberle was dismissed for 47 off 84 balls and Dovey followed soon after for 36 but they contributions had Park ahead of the required rate. Park were 4-143 after the two established batsmen departed but Pyle and Mitch Woods ensured their side won with three overs to spare, finishing on 5-188. Paul Osborne was the pick of the Bulls bowlers with 3-29. Royals bounced back from their disappointing round nine loss, blasting to a double bonus-point win chasing 173 against the winless Denmark. The Magpies, led by Liam Higgins (42) and Peter Ross (33 not out), were bowled out for 172 in the 43rd over as spinner Jack Hastie and debutant Jaydon Gadenne each claimed three wickets. Starting a tricky chase the Lions openers Ted Batchelor and Digby Nuthall scored at more than seven runs an over and their 128-run first-wicket stand was the difference. Nuthall fell to Matt Burton for 67 and when Batchelor spooned a catch on 57 their side were 2-153. Some quick hitting from Liam Want (16 off five balls) and Jack Steel (19 not out) was enough for the Lions to successfully secure a double bonus point, chasing down the target inside 25 overs.