ADCA 2024-25: Collingwood Park secure first win of the season, Royals remain unbeaten after round five

Collingwood Park registered their first win of the 2024-25 Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition, while Royals remain the only undefeated side after round five on Saturday. A superb team bowling performance helped Park defend 150, skittling the winless Manypeaks for just 137 in the 37th over at Turf East. After being bowled out in the 44th over of their batting innings, Park got the perfect start after Byron Spaanderman nicked off Peaks captain Regan Poett for a second-ball duck. Casey Ganzer scored freely at the top of the order with 35 runs from 19 deliveries but Peaks struggled to conjure meaningful partnerships. Leg-spinner Jed Schwarzbach (3-23) claimed the crucial wicket of Ganzer, and Ben Grey (0-17) tightened the screws after the power play before O’Shea Durack (2-28) and Englishman Freddie Sharp (1-33) combined for three quick wickets. Kane Pinney consolidated through the middle overs with a patient 26 before his knock was ended when Sharp caught him short of his ground in the first over after drinks. Middle-order batter Oliver Douglas provided some resilience with 36 runs from 40 balls, but he was sent walking by Leroy van den Dool, who took two wickets in his only over, before Schwarzbach ended Peaks’ tough day in the 33rd over. Earlier, Park won the toss and elected to bat, and after Cameron Walsh castled Warwick Durack for one, Park reassembled through van den Dool (43) and new recruit Dylan Solomon (20). However, most of their middle order failed, with Buddy Robinson’s unbeaten 34 the only score above 10 as Peaks put the clamps on through the middle overs. Peaks claimed four wickets in the five overs before drinks as Douglas (2-29) and Kane Pinney’s 1-8 from four overs threatened to derail Park’s entire innings. Peaks’ Ben Southern manufactured a spectacular run-out to send Solomon back to the pavilion, but youngster Robinson showed maturity beyond his years to help Park to a winning total. The Lions overcame a nervy run chase to secure a four-wicket victory over Railways at Turf North, and remain the only undefeated A-grade side. Opener Ryley Valli provided yet another sublime knock to anchor the Lions’ innings, scoring 81 from 118 balls. Valli smacked five boundaries, but smart stroke play and quick running between the wickets hallmarked his innings. The Lions were cruising at 2-102 before the Tigers sparked a comeback when Milan Jaggi snared Mitch Green, caught behind for 26, and then Joe Stanley snared his second wicket, dismissing Harry Grigson (7). However, young wicketkeeper Davey Wignall (12) combined with Valli for a crucial 31-run sixth-wicket stand. Valli’s innings eventually ended 18 runs shy of victory after Caleb Haua’s safe hands in the deep held on to a skied ball, before aggressive right-hander Daniel Thomas plundered two sixes in three balls to secure victory for the Lions in the 41st over. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Tigers struggled to form substantial early partnerships as they stumbled to 5-68 in the opening session. The Tigers’ drastic top-order batting collapse was highlighted by Hayden Davies, who took a freakish catch off his own bowling to dismiss opener Devon Jefferis (10) before brother Ryan Davies snared a screamer at short leg off the bat of Alan Pietersen (4). Pacer Matt France claimed 1-16 before an ankle injury forced him from the field for the rest of the innings, but fiery quick Thomas picked up the slack with 3-45 from seven overs. Stanley anchored their innings with a superb 62 runs from 105 balls, while Milan Jaggi showed strong intent with 35 from 44 balls. Lions skipper Green produced an economic nine-over spell of 2-28 which included the partnership-breaking wicket of Milan Jaggi, and bowled in a tight partnership with Valli, who finished with a strangling 0-18 from nine overs. Hayden Davies finished their brilliant effort in the field with tight death bowling to return 2-23 from seven overs.