By Michael Roberts | posted on December 17, 2020
RAILWAYS’ quest for an eighth straight Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade title is in ruins after being rolled for just 49 by a Nathan Crudeli-led Mt Barker on Saturday.
Tigers captain Coen Marwick was left stranded on 18 not out as his side crumbled around him in the worst batting display since Royals were bowled out for 49 last season.
You couldn’t say conditions ideally suited the bowlers, either, with the sun shining bright for most of the afternoon at Centennial Stadium.
Remarkably, the Railways total could have been much worse.
The Tigers were in all sorts after stumbling to 8/15 inside the first six overs, but some lower order resistance from Cooper Filipowski and Ryan Tindale saved their team from serious embarrassment.
Crudeli – who captained Railways last year – claimed ultimate bragging rights over his former side as he snared 5/15 in a magnificent display of swing bowling.
In an eventful start to the match, Crudeli had dangerous opener Alan Pietersen clean bowled for a golden duck on the second ball of the day and then had Aubin Spurr caught behind for another duck just three deliveries later.
When left-arm paceman Steven Scott ripped straight through the defences of Oswin D’Sylva, Railways had slumped to 3/4 after just two overs.
Marwick looked devastated out in the middle as his teammates fell like flies.
Tindale and Filipowski helped Railways avoid complete disaster as they chipped in for some crucial lower order runs, but the Tigers couldn’t make it past 50 as they meekly succumbed in the 19th over.
The Bulls chased down the total inside 16 overs, with Alex Fergie’s 21 runs from 52 balls the game’s top score.
Hayden Davies was one shining light on an otherwise dismal day for Railways, taking 3-13.
A few hundred metres away on Turf C, a separate batting collapse decided another game’s result.
Chasing Manypeak’s 160 for victory, Collingwood Park couldn’t find any rhythm as they were bowled out for a miserly 89 in the 34th over.
Off-season Manypeaks recruit Daniel Rees jagged a fiver as he ran amok with Park’s lower order.
A subdued batting display got Peaks beyond the 150 mark earlier in the day, with no one passing 25 with the stick.
Paul Donaldson was looking on track for a big score before he was caught at point for 23, while Captain Aaron Tilbury notched up a quick-fire 20 from 25 balls.
Paceman Ben Grey impressed with the ball for Park, finishing with 2/19 from his nine overs.
But he couldn’t back his bowling form up with the bat, out lbw for one inside the first 15 minutes of Park’s run-chase.
After Leroy Van Den Dool was back in the sheds for a duck, Nathan Dovey and Nathan Barrow went about steadying the ship, combining for a 26-run partnership.
But when Dovey was bowled by veteran leg-spinner Ryan Kinnear, it triggered a major collapse.
The Kangaroos lost 5-15 to be all out for 89 in the 35th over as Rees weaved his trickery with the ball.
After six rounds, Mount Barker sit pretty on top of the ladder undefeated, while Railways are rooted to the bottom with only one win.
In an association first, this weekend’s round of fixtures sees teams vie for premiership points in the entertaining T20 format.
