ADCA 2024-25: Royals and Mt Barker notch victories in penultimate round as battle for top goes into last week

Royals are in the box seat to finish on top of the ladder after an intriguing penultimate round of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition. Just one point separated the top three teams heading into round 19 on Saturday but the Lions and Mt Barker recorded one-day victories as the battle for the minor premiership and direct qualification into the grand final heads into the final round. The Lions and Bulls are still locked on total points and bonus points, with the Lions holding top spot due to their superior net run rate. The Bulls missed what may prove to be a critical bonus point after opponents Railways made 154 in their chase of 188 to win at Turf East. If they had of bowled the Tigers out for less and earned a bonus point, the Bulls would have grabbed top spot outright. But the Bulls have the bye in round 20 and won’t finish on top of the ladder with that now resting on the huge showdown between the Lions and Tigers this Saturday. The Tigers loss means they must finish the regular season with a bonus point win over the reigning premiers, if they are to pinch top spot. The Lions escaped with a lucky win over Manypeaks at Turf North, the seven-run victory giving the Lions a strong chance at another grand final appearance. Yet again the Lions had their struggles with the bat, as only skipper Mitch Green built an innings of substance. Cameron Walsh (2-14) knocked over Ryley Valli (2) and Tyler Crommelin (5) cheaply before a 71-run stand between Lincoln Joy and Green steadied the ship. Joy became the first of Jeremy Stewart’s three scalps, the left-hander bowled on 20, but Green continued to score freely. He took a liking to spinner Liam Davies and cracked four sixes in his pivotal half century. Angus Thompson provided some support with 17 and Green was eventually undone by Stewart on 67 from 78 balls but two costly late run outs left the Lions with just 141 on the board. Stewart returned 3-41 from his 10 overs while Ryan Kinnear helped slow the run rate with 2-9 from six overs. The Lions needed early wickets and they got that through Hayden Davies and then Matt Thompson, who bowled Regan Poett (2) and Seb Stanton (11) respectively. Peaks got the chase back on track through Warwick Durack and Kinnear but it would be Ryan Davies that turned the momentum of the game with 2-11 and two run outs. The 45-run stand of Durack and Kinnear ended when Ryan Davies snared Durack (29) lbw in the 20th over before he nicked off Englishman Ben Southern for a duck in his next over. A horrible mix up then allowed Ryan Davies to run out Kinnear on 17 on the verge of drinks as Peaks slipped to 5-68. Youngsters Oliver Douglas and Walsh made 21 each but the Lions upped the pressure as Jack Hastie (2-24 from 10 overs) and Angus Thompson (0-19 from six) tied Peaks down. Ryan Davies then produced a brilliant direct hit to run out Peaks No.11 Josh Wallis and hand his side a gritty win, bowling Peaks out for 134 in the 49th over. Meanwhile experienced pair Ryan Gaerth and Jeremy Wood set up the Bulls 33-run win with the bat before spearhead Mitch Jackson claimed four wickets with the ball. After a shaky start with the bat, Gaerth and Jeremy Wood both occupied the crease for decent periods to help their side make 187 batting first. Gaerth made 46 before he tried unsuccessfully to hit young spinner Angus Clarke-Smith over the top. Jeremy Wood was the mainstay of the Bulls innings with a superb 56 from 60 balls, including six boundaries. Ryan Tindale (2-21), Coen Marwick (2-48) and Jaspreet Kanwal (2-19) all snared multiple wickets for the Tigers. Jeremy Wood delivered two crucial early blows, dismissing Caleb Haua for 14 and then had Marwick caught behind on just five. Opener Billy O’Meara batted with great poise, as he gave the Tigers a chance with 57 from 101 balls. Bulls teenager Lucas Baker removed O’Meara and had a hand in running Tindale out. Mohit Jaggi tried to get his side over the line with an unbeaten 32 but he ran out of partners as Jackson returned to rip through the tail. Jackson claimed the final three wickets to mop up the tail and finish with 4-40 from 9.2 overs but the Tigers defiance mainly through O’Meara and Jaggi helped not give up a crucial bonus point.