Railways chalk up third straight win in low-scoring affair

Railways stretched their winning streak to three matches after a disciplined bowling performance helped the reigning four-time premiers defeat Mt Barker by 32 runs in their clash at Turf North on Sunday afternoon.

With wins over Collingwood Park and North County in their opening two games of the season followed with a bye, an intriguing round 4 encounter awaited the Tigers on a deck that offered plenty of assistance for the bowlers and became harder to score as the day wore on.

The Bulls lost the toss and were forced to field but they started impressively as opening bowlers Jacob Wintle and Steven Scott troubled and eventually removed Tigers’ key duo Zane Marwick and Mitch Green cheaply.

Nathan Crudeli, playing solely as a batsman because of a back injury, also had a brief stay at the crease before he was trapped lbw by Tim Fitzgerald in his first A-grade appearance for the Bulls.

Matt Walters was anchoring the Tigers innings but his dismissal and then Alan Pietersen becoming Fitzgerald’s second scalp left the home side 5-76 with 15 overs remaining.

Coen Marwick and youngster Aidan Dallimore shared in a vital 35-run partnership to guide the Tigers past 100 but once Coen Marwick was caught in the deep the Tigers lower order was quickly knocked over. Dallimore made 20 and Coen Marwick chipped in with 29 as the Tigers were bowled out for 129 in 44 overs.

Chasing 130 to claim consecutive victories the Bulls got through the initial 12-over period unscathed before the introduction of spinner Zane Marwick and nagging seamer Ryan Tindale had a disastrous effect for the visitors.

In the space five over the Bulls lost 3-6 as Zane Marwick firstly bowled Alex Fergie on 23 and then Nathan Crosby (2) and Luke Hammond (4) were removed by Tindale.

Zane Marwick then snared the prize wicket of fellow skipper and former teammate Jeremy Wood for eight as the Bulls slumped to 4-47.

Fitzgerald provided some resistance with 21 runs from 32 balls but Tindale capped off a fine nine over spell to also remove him as the Bulls were dismissed for 97.

Debutant off-spinner Aubin Spurr helped clean up the tail with 3-18, the Tigers effort with the ball also yielding a bonus point as they kept the Bulls to under the 103-run mark needed for an extra point.

Tindale finished with 3-14 and was well supported by Zane Marwick (3-26) while opener Coen Marwick conceded just 11 runs from his tight seven over spell at the top.

The bonus-point win continues the Tigers’ strong season start and has them clear on top of the table with 22 points ahead of a meeting with Manypeaks this weekend.