In-form Park fire with the bat in crucial win

Collingwood Park have recorded their best win of the season, handing ladder leaders Manypeaks a second loss in 2019-20, to maintain breathing space in fourth spot on the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade standings. Park significantly boosted their finals aspirations, defending 210 in their round 11 contest with the top team on Saturday afternoon as they made it four straight wins. In a tight final few overs, Park held their nerve to register their sixth win. Peaks required 60 to win off the final 10 overs with Seb Stanton and Declan McNamara at the crease. The game was in the balance, with Stanton already past 50 and McNamara a threatening stroke player but Ben Grey removed the latter for just two to put his side in the box seat again. Stanton was keeping Peaks in the game but the loss of Kieran Howie and then Myles O’Meehan in the last five overs hurt their chances. Peaks needed 18 runs from the final over to win but seamer Jesse Spaanderman delivered Park victory as Stanton chipped a ball to cover to be the last wicket to fall. Stanton was outstanding in the chase, making 75 but his side fell 17 runs short, bowled out for 193 with five balls left in the innings. Opener Regan Poett (24) got his side off to a god start after Aran Tilbury and new number three Ryan Kinnear went cheaply. Park captain Matt Heberle claimed four vital scalps to continue his superb season with the ball while Grey, Mitch Woods and Spaanderman all claimed two wickets each. The win was set up by ever consistent batter Nathan Dovey, who crunched 76 to help push his side past 200. Dovey hit six fours and one six and is now the leading run scorer in the competition with an aggregate of 425 from 10 innings. Nick Barrow and Leroy van den Dool ensured Park made a strong start with the ball, adding 57 for the second wicket before Barrow fell on 37 and when Kinnear snared van den Dool two runs short of a half century, his side were 3-126. Dovey and Nathan De Graaf (24) combined for 69 runs to get their side to 4-195 before they lost 5-15 to end on 210. Peaks fast bowler Paul Donaldson took 5-27. It was the first-grade cricketer’s best return with the ball in the ACDA since returning but Park prevailed in the end to make it four wins on the trot and dish Peaks their first defeat since round 5.