ADCA 2025-26: Mt Barker’s missing men no problem as they knock over Royals in sixth one-day win of season

Reigning premiers Mt Barker finished the year on a high, downing rivals Royals to cement their place in the top two as the Albany and Districts Cricket Association heads to the mid-season break. The Bulls were sent in by the Lions in round 11 of the A-grade competition on Saturday at Turf North, and despite not having skipper Jeremy Wood and English star Sam Keeling-Wright they coasted to a sixth one-day win this campaign. The result keeps the Bulls four points clear of the third-placed Lions as the A-grade competition breaks until late January. A 53-run first wicket partnership between Alex Fergie and Jack Taylor set the stage before experienced head Neil Ferreira blasted 83 to turn the game in the Bulls’ favour. Ferreira hit nine boundaries in his class knock before he was the second last man to fall late in the innings. Hayden Davies claimed former teammate Tyler Crommelin (20), Ferreira and then Ulrich Kriek (0) as the Lions removed their opponents for 222 in the last over. Seamer Matt Thompson had given the Lions some much-needed spark in the field, claiming 4-25 from a terrific 10-over spell. But the Bulls scored freely for much of the innings as Ryley Valli, Jack Hastie and Mitch Green all went at more than five runs per over. The Lions’ chase got off to a horrible start, Ryan Gaerth getting Green caught behind for 12 and then key wicket Lincoln Joy fell for five, undone by Adam Prowse. Prowse then bowled Ryley Valli for 12 to leave the Lions at 3-43 and in plenty of trouble. Matt France tried to dig his side out of a hole, but his fighting half-century was in vain. He shared in a 61-run stand with Leighton Smith but Crommelin had the latter caught by Ferreia after making a well-compiled 27 from 51 balls. The Lions’ tail failed to wag and France eventually fell to Fergie after his top knock of 61. France combined both aggressive hitting with well-timed stroke play and patience but he simply needed some more support. Prowse finished with 3-34 from his 10 overs, while Fergie also played a vital role with the ball to return 3-11. The Bulls went down in a T20 fixture with Manypeaks on Friday night, falling short in their chase of 178 to win. Oliver Douglas produced a sizzling half-century, blasting five sixes and two fours as an opener. Douglas made a wonderful 77 from 42 balls and was well supported by fellow opener Thomas Leaver (49no) before Alby Berridge came in to make 39 from just 19 balls. Peaks made 1-177 batting first as only Crommelin (1-25) snared a wicket. Mitch Jackson returned to the Bulls’ line-up and smacked 74 from 51 deliveries, including five sixes, to go with Ferreira’s 47 to get their side close. Three late Seb Stanton wickets got Peaks across the line, as the Bulls could manage only 6-173 in reply. Cameron Walsh (2-28 from four overs) and Liam Davies (0-21 from four overs) produced vital spells to slow the Bulls down.