ADCA 2025-26: Douglas’ haul helps Manypeaks prosper in pole but victory over Park puts Royals in hot pursuit

Manypeaks took advantage of Mt Barker’s surprise demise against Railways to increase their advantage at the top of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade ladder with a six-wicket win over Denmark on Saturday. Peaks and Royals are firming for the top two sports after 19 rounds of the competition, with the Bulls losing precious ground in the race for finals thanks to their seven-wicket loss to the Tigers. With the Lions beating Collingwood Park on Saturday and clinching a tight catch-up contest against the Tigers on Sunday, they and Peaks are well clear of the Bulls in third with just two regular rounds remaining. Peaks had Oliver Douglas to thank for their victory over Denmark on Turf North, as the bowler dismissed opener Jed Schwarzbach for a duck and then wiped out the Magpies’ tail to end any lingering resistance. With the Magpies all out for 175, Peaks overcame an early wobble to reach 4-179 in the 38th over. The Magpies’ talisman Campbell Robertson was back after missing a Twenty20 and 50-over match last weekend, but even his 58 was not enough to set Peaks an unreachable tally. Robertson clocked his half-century with two boundaries on the trot through mid-wicket before he was caught at mid-on by Aran Tilbury off Ryan Kinnear. Ryan Hick (33), Peter Ross (22) and Lewis Culver (20) all chipped in late on, but Douglas saw off the last four batters to finish with 5-32 and set Peaks up for the reply. A reshuffled top deck saw Kane Pinney (17) opening with Oskar McSweeney (seven) to get the ball rolling, but it was Berridge who did the most damage with a super unbeaten 80 in partnership with Kinnear, who blocked and edged his way to 43. After Kinnear was bowled by Beau Loton and Paul Donaldson was dispatched by a Hick catch, also off Loton, it was left for Douglas to add the 15 needed to get Peaks over the line. Loton finished with 2-11 off his single over. Meanwhile on Turf South, Royals continued their pursuit of Manypeaks as a Teague Valli half-century helped them to a seven-wicket win over Collingwood Park. Chasing Park’s 128, Valli’s unbeaten 59 in 62 balls put Park to the sword after brother Ryley Valli (two) and Lincoln Joy (four) had gone cheaply. Ryley Valley was caught at mid-on by Jesse Spaanderman off Dylan Belward, while Joy chipped Belward to the same spot. Those early dismissals, which had the Lions teetering on 2-7, were but a false dawn for Park as Harry Grigson made a welcome 30 and, in tandem with Teague Valli, put on 81 for the third wicket. Grigson was eventually caught at square leg trying to flick one away from JP Swart, but Leighton Smith then carried on the good work with a run-a-ball 23 which included four fours, to see the Lions home at 3-129 inside 23 overs. Park were short of A-grade regulars because of teammate Byron Spaanderman’s bucks party. Their batting left much to be desired, with only Buddy Robinson holding his own. His 48 came from 78 balls and included three fours and one six until he was caught at cover by Matt Thompson off Green. He and Oli Clark had seemed to be putting together a decent partnership after coming together at 2-15, but Clark was lbw to Teague Valli for 21, with the massive Lions’ roar following the wicket suggesting they were happy to split the pair. Leroy van den Dool added 13 and Chad Myors 14, but there was little help elsewhere as Jack Hastie racked up 3-17 to be the best of the Lions’ bowlers. Matt France (2-19) and Thompson (2-21) also had good afternoons with the ball. The Lions followed up that triumph with a round-two catch-up victory over the Tigers the following day, winning a tight one by 13 runs.