Tigers fire back up ladder after double bonus point win

Reigning premiers Railways have shot themselves back into the top two in the Albany Cricket Association A-grade standings after thrashing Manypeaks in Saturday’s grand final rematch at Turf North.

Meeting for the first time since last season’s decider in which the Tigers were comfortable six-wicket winners, the team that have won the past five A-grade titles produced their best performance of the current season.

The Tigers recovered from the loss of an early wicket to set a formidable 225 for Peaks to chase, and that target proved insurmountable for the previously unbeaten Peaks.

Peaks’ chase never really got going and they lost 6-35 in a lower-order collapse to be bowled out for 88 and hand the Tigers a double bonus-point victory.

The 136-run belting lifted the Tigers to second place on the ladder heading into a clash with the sixth-placed Royals as the Zane Marwick-led side build towards another finals campaign.

Marwick was superb in the Tigers’ fourth straight win over Peaks, scoring a classy 73 not out before snaring the wicket of opposition skipper Aran Tilbury.

His innings was his most significant contribution of the season, coming off 80 balls at No.5, while removing Tilbury was key in the result as he top-scored with 18.

Mark Natale (7) departed early but the Tigers had contributions all the way down.

Sam Want played well for his 30 to go with Nathan Crudeli’s 38 and a brief 20 from Coen Marwick as their side reached 6-224.

Tilbury, Ryan Kinnear (15) and Tim Shephard (13) were the three players to reach double figures, but their side was brought undone by the Tigers’ attack, led by Crudeli (3-21) and Englishman Hasnain Nawaz (3-14).

Meanwhile, Royals survived a huge scare against Denmark to record their maiden win of the season at Turf South.

The Lions finally delivered with the bat as recruit Mitch Green and crisp stroke-maker Matt Wolfe shared in a 96-run stand to help set up a big total batting first.

Green made a patient 76 off 120 balls and was well supported by Wolfe (49) and import Sam Hughes (28) as the Lions finished 7-227 from their 45 overs.

The Magpies, however, took the game to the final over after a swashbuckling innings from captain Ryan Gaerth and some poor fielding ensured a tight finish.

Gaerth blasted 64 off 59 balls, including three sixes, while opener Matt Burton (36) and Cary Green (33) also played important roles.

The Magpies required 40 runs off the final 30 balls but the Lions held their nerve to escape with an eight-run win.

Jack Hastie was terrific with 3-35 off his nine overs and was well supported by Ted Batchelor (2-36) at the death.

Mt Barker moved to the top of the table after they recorded a bonus-point victory over Collingwood Park in their round 5 clash at Turf East.

In-form batsman Nathan Crosby took his run tally to 363 from five digs in the A-grade competition this season after his 58 was the mainstay of the Bulls’ innings on their way to 6-184.

Park started their run chase well with Ben Grey (18), Jesse Spaanderman (31) and Leroy van den Dool (28) all making starts, but their side lost 5-29 to be all out for 127 as the Bulls finished with a bonus-point win.