Lions’ attack sets up bonus point victory

Royals have leapfrogged Manypeaks to claim fifth place on the ladder heading into the mid-season break in the Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition after an impressive bonus-point win at Turf North in round 6 on Saturday afternoon.

A disciplined bowling display set up the Lions’ victory as they restricted Peaks to 156 and then successfully chased down the target inside 40 overs to notch their second win of the season.

It was slow going for Peaks, who batted first, losing Aran Tilbury for two in the second over of the game before skipper Craig Sinclair and Harry Broomhall steadied their innings.

Broomhall cracked three boundaries and looked ready to launch before he was trapped lbw by Jack Batchelor on 25.

Wickets fell regularly following Broomhall’s departure as Sinclair produced a composed knock at the other end.

Sinclair reached his half-century in the final 10 overs of the game and was eventually caught off Lions fast bowler Dylan Holt for 56, but a fighting 31 from Jeremy Stewart ensured Peaks set a competitive total after scoring 45 runs in the final 10 overs.

Holt produced a troubling spell that returned 3-30 off his nine overs, while Ted Batchelor was also important with 3-34 off eight.

Promoted to open the batting, Holt played with freedom as he got the Lions off to a flying start along with regular batsman Digby Nuthall.

The Lions had 35 runs on the board in four overs and were on 61 after 10 as the game slipped away from Peaks quickly.

Holt hit four boundaries in his entertaining innings of 30 as he and Nuthall had a 70-run opening stand. Warwick Durack (3-32) removed Holt, snared Nuthall (24) soon afterwards, and when key duo Shameer Ahmed (3) and Matt Wolfe (11) went, the pressure was back on the Lions at 4-114.

Cohen Chapman added 19 before being brought undone by Wade Anning, and the Lions were on 6-130 when Ian Attwell was gone for a duck.

However, with plenty of overs up their sleeve, captain Jack Hastie (23 not out) and youngster Ted Batchelor (11 not out) made sure of the result as they passed the total in the 38th over.