Manypeaks hold their nerve

Superb death bowling from Ryan Kinnear and Jeremy Stewart has helped Manypeaks edge out Royals in a tense finish to their round seven Albany & Districts Cricket Association A-grade clash at Turf East on Saturday.

A brilliant 93 not out from Matt Wolfe almost guided the Lions to an upset win, as they were involved in a second thriller in as many weeks — this time on the losing end.

Without skipper Mitch Green, Wolfe was the star of the Lions’ run chase but was left stranded seven runs short of a century as his team fell 16 runs short.

Peaks set the Lions a difficult 189 runs to win and Wolfe had to help steady his side, who fell to 2-15 early on in the absence of Green.

Wolfe passed a half century and continued to attack, dragging the Lions within sight of victory as the game entered the final 10 overs.

The Lions, who were chasing a fourth win on the trot, needed 35 off the final seven overs with two wickets in hand but Wolfe simply ran out of partners.

Kinnear snared his fifth wicket when he brought undone Marcus Mellon on eight and then Wolfe and Bodhi Stubber shared a 19-run ninth-wicket partnership to take their side to 9-172 with four overs remaining. Stubber was trapped in front lbw by Jeremy Stewart, who proceeded to remove Cameron Newbold for a first-ball duck and hand Peaks an impressive win.

The Lions were bowled out for 172 in reply, Wolfe left unbeaten on his highest A-grade score.

Stewart again showed his worth as a slow bowling option, collecting 4-34 off his 8.4 overs while Kinnear took a second consecutive five wicket haul.

The spinner shot to the top of the competition’s wicket takers, having snared 19 wickets at 8.6 in a outstanding start to the new season. Kinnear ripped through the middle order after Stewart made the early breakthroughs of Cohen Chapman (5) and Ted Batchelor (2).

In-form batsman Jack Steel made 24, putting on 51 runs with Wolfe before young Manypeaks bowler Jack Stephens was able to get through the guard of Steel.

Peaks batted first and were able to surpass 150 after some lusty late hitting from Declan McNamara to go with solid knocks from Regan Poett (28), Jack Dawson (27) and Seb Stanton (32).

The main partnership between McNamara and Stanton delivered 75 runs to help their side reach 6-188.

McNamara was slow to get going but quickly made up for it, cracking two sixes and three fours in his 44 off 41 balls.

Jack Hastie (2-25) and Stubber (2-35) were the multiple wicket takers for the Lions.