Skipper says Manypeaks top order needs to knuckle down

Manypeaks will be out to avoid a third straight loss and regain some form with the bat when they face Mt Barker in round 7 of the Merrifield Real Estate Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition on Saturday.

Peaks won their first three games of the season before being bowled out for less than 100 in their past two encounters, a 136-run loss to Railways and then a 27-run defeat at the hands of North County.

Only three players reached double figures last week and new captain Aran Tilbury said his side must place more value on their wickets in their clash with the Bulls on Turf East this week.

“(The last two weeks) we haven’t really put the head down and got in,” Tilbury said.

“The main focus is batting, our bowling has been good but we just need to score more runs.”

The Bulls are in terrific form, led by key batsman Nathan Crosby and Jeremy Wood, having won their past three games and sit second on the ladder.

Crosby (363 runs at an average of 121) and Wood (178 at 89) are both inside the top five run scorers in the A-grade competition this season, something Tilbury said his side were wary of.

“Their obviously the in-form batting team,” he said.

“Wood and Crosby are the two, hopefully we can try and get through them and then keep them to a low total.”

Peaks are waiting on the availability of seamer Myles O’Meehan for Saturday with Bailey Cavanagh who took 1-14 off nine in B-grade last Saturday the potential replacement.

In other A-grade fixtures the Bulldogs take on Royals in an intriguing game at Turf North while ladder leaders the Tigers meet Collingwood Park on Turf South.

The ACA under-19 T20 competition resumes tomorrow night after last Friday’s games were called off due to rain.

That round is likely to be played next week and the final pushed back another week to ensure all teams play each other once.

ACA A-GRADE ROUND 7

Saturday, 12.15pm start

Mt Barker v Manypeaks at Turf East

North County v Royals at Turf North

Railways v Collingwood Park at Turf South