Mt Barker secure grand final berth after 11th victory of Albany and Districts Cricket Association season

Mt Barker remain hot premiership favourites after booking their place in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade grand final later this month. The Bulls secured top spot with victory over Railways in round 17, with the minor premiership earning them a place in the decider in the new-look ADCA finals system. With three rounds remaining, the Bulls sit 16 points clear at the top of the table with a huge net run rate advantage. Opener Alex Fergie led from the top in Saturday’s 38-run victory as he blasted a superb century against the Tigers. Fergie, who hit an unbeaten double century last season, helped the Bulls post a match-winning total batting first at Turf South. Without fellow opening batsmen Neil Ferreira, Fergie took control of the innings as he was joined by Nathan Crosby at the top of the order. Fergie and Crosby put together a superb 150-run stand to lay the foundations of their side’s total of 3-224. After a slow start, the openers started to tick the run rate along at good pace through the middle overs. The Bulls had posted 70 runs at the halfway point of their innings, before smashing 154 runs in the final 25 overs. Crosby was the first wicket to fall, caught behind for a composed 57 before Fergie and Clayton Wood shared in a 31-run partnership. Wood was also caught behind after making 15. With Fergie on 99, an edge down to third man took the opener to triple figures. Nathan Crudeli took over in the final six overs in the innings when he came to the crease after captain Jeremy Wood was bowled. Crudeli smashed 29 out of his side’s 38 runs in the final six overs to help them surpass 200. Fergie finished unbeaten on 111 from 146 balls including seven fours and two sixes, while Crudeli made 29 not out from 21 balls which included two fours and one six. The run chase was always going to be difficult and by the 38th over the Tigers and had fallen to 5-125. Keeper Aidan Dallimore and inclusion Lawrence T’Hart put together a 40-run stand before Dallimore was run out. The Tigers struggled to score in the final five overs, managing just 21 runs as they finished on 9-186. Dallimore top-scored with 47 while T’Hart added a strong contribution of 36. Jeremy Wood starred with the ball taking 4-46 from 10 overs while Crudeli claimed 2-31 off 10 overs.