Kieran Howie’s opening blast sets platform for Manypeaks to chase down Royals and notch important victory

Destructive opening batter Kieran Howie and star all-rounder Paul Donaldson ensured Manypeaks notched an important three-wicket victory over Royals in round five of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association on Sunday. The win on Turf North against the reigning premiers helped Peaks edge two games clear in second spot on the ladder. Howie got Peaks off to a flyer in the run chase with a superb half-century before Donaldson anchored the innings and steered Peaks home with two overs to spare. The Lions, however, suffered their second-straight defeat and third for the season after being unable to defend their total they set batting first. Ted Batchelor and Ryley Valli got the Lions off to a great start with a 58-run opening stand rotating the strike and finding the boundary when the bowlers presented an opportunity. Donaldson removed Batchelor for 20 but Valli continued to go about his business bringing up his half-century and taking his side into triple figures. However when Valli was dismissed his side lost 3-23 with part-time bowler Regan Poett coming on and doing the damage for Peaks, taking all three wickets. Valli was stumped for 64 in an innings that included five boundaries. Lions captain Mitch Green dug deep with 31, but wickets continued to fall around him as his side lost 3-9 to end their innings on 7-155. Poett finished with impressive figures of 3-23 off nine overs, two of which were maidens to be the pick of the Peaks bowlers. Lions strike bowler Matt France had Poett caught behind in a wicket maiden over but Howie started scoring freely. For the next 10 overs Peaks were scoring at 51/2 with Donaldson joining Howie at the crease after Seb Stanton was dismissed. Howie and Donaldson added 49 runs together with Howie doing most of the scoring, bringing up his half-century with a boundary. But when he was removed for 60, his side lost 3-11 and the Lions clamped down. Ryan Kinnear walked to the crease to join Donaldson, with the seasoned pair steering Peaks towards victory with a 38-run partnership. After Kinnear and Chris Metcalfe were dismissed, Peaks still needed 12 to win from the final four overs. However captain Aran Tilbury came out and whacked two fours off a Batchelor over to seal victory, leaving Donaldson unbeaten on 49. Peaks finished on 7-157 with 12 balls to spare. France snared 2-16 off seven overs while Green took 2-20 off his nine overs in a losing effort.