By Michael Roberts | posted on November 26, 2020
A FIRED-UP Railways outfit snagged their first premiership points of the 2020/21 Albany and Districts Cricket Association season after an inspired bowling performance handed the Tigers a comfortable win over Collingwood Park.
Losing a number of key players in the off-season, Railways had looked like a shadow of the team that won the past seven ADCA titles.
But as champion teams often do when they’re up against it, the Tigers responded in impressive fashion.
Although Collingwood Park batted out their 45 overs, Railways were able to restrict the Kangaroos to 8/112.
Railways Captain Coen Marwick led the way with the ball, taking three wickets for just 13 runs.
Marwick, who has a knack for snaring key wickets at crucial times, dismissed Leroy Van Den Dool caught behind for 34, just as the Park batsman was looking dangerous.
Van Den Dool was the only Park player to make it past 20 as the away team struggled to find boundaries with any regularity.
After being promoted to the top of the order, Ben Grey was clean bowled by Cooper Filip- owski for a 20-ball duck, while the dangerous Nathan Dovey was caught behind for eight.
Darting off-spinner Aubin Spurr was incredibly economical for Railways, going for just 17 runs off his nine overs.
Byron Spaanderman (17*) mounted a mini fight back at the end of Park’s innings, but it was a case of too little too late as the Kangaroos crawled to their miserly total.
Defending just 113, Park were going to need a bunch of early wickets to have any chance of making a miraculous fight back.
And Grey delivered for his captain in the fifth over, ripping straight through the defence of aggressive opener Alan Pietersen for 5.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals, with Spurr (17) and Marwick (20) back in the sheds before the end of the 15th over.
The trouble for Park was they couldn’t stop Railways scoring quick runs.
Ryan Davies notched up a run-a-ball 23, while debutant Oswin D’Sylva hit three boundaries during his knock of 18.
After losing too many key batsmen, Railways failed to secure a bonus-point win, with Jarrad Fuller smashing consecutive fours to seal victory in the 32nd over.
Just a few hundred metres away at Centennial Park, Royals notched up their second win on the trot with a 30-run triumph over Manypeaks.
Batting first, Royals reached 8/178 off their 45 overs as young gun Ryley Valli continued to show a level of maturity well beyond his years.
A classy 47 at the top of the order took Valli’s season run tally to 143 at an average of 71.50.
The 16-year-old is the ADCA’s leading run scorer in A-grade.
When Royals captain Mitch Green came to the crease, the Lions were 1-76 in the 21st over.
Green looked back to his best form as he went on to make 47 from 61 balls, including three big sixes over square leg.
Young fast bowler Charlie Walters bowled magnificently at the death for Peaks, finish- ing with 4/30 off his nine-over spell.
Requiring 179 for victory, Manypeaks’ chase couldn’t have got off to a worse start, with captain Aran Tilbury run out for a diamond duck in the first over.
Last season’s grand finalists were in all sorts after swing bowler Tyler Crommelin trapped Regan Poett LBW after facing just five balls.
When Railways recruit David Brown had Ethan Drew out for two, Peaks had slumped to 4/33 inside ten overs.
Ryan Kinnear and Kieran Howie dug in to save their side from a hefty defeat, combining for a slow-and-steady 78-run partnership.
Peaks needed about six runs an over off the last 10 to pull off an unlikely win but couldn’t find another gear as they were bowled out for 148 in the 44th over.