ADCA 2024-25: Mt Barker veteran Neil Ferreira’s unbeaten knock helps Mt Barker to third straight victory

Mt Barker handed Railways their first defeat of the season after veteran wicketkeeper-batter Neil Ferreira notched his second half-century in four matches in his side’s three-wicket win at Turf East. The Bulls now sit atop the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade ladder with three wins and a loss, and one point ahead of Royals, who have a game in hand. Ferreira has been a thorn in nearly every bowling attack’s side this year, accumulating 193 runs and being dismissed just once. The crafty left-hander scored an unbeaten 65 from 107 balls as the Bulls chased down the lean target of 156 in the 41st over. He and Jeremy Wood (28 runs) combined for a crucial 64-run fourth-wicket partnership before Joe Stanley (1-31) snared the Bulls’ captain. That wicket started a run of 4-37 for the Tigers as Lochlan Otway and Coen Marwick combined for three wickets in quick succession. However, with Ferreira still occupying the crease, the Bulls eased their way to their third successive win. Earlier, the Tigers won the toss and batted, with openers Billy O’Meara and new recruit Devon Jefferis celebrating a half-century stand before a stunning batting collapse — in which they lost 7-41 — marred their crumbled batting innings. O’Meara contributed 22, while Jefferis scored a patient 49 before Jarrad Gardner and Jonte Eastough ripped through the Tigers’ middle order. Gardner took 5-25 in a devastating nine-over spell, and Eastough chipped in with 2-12 from six overs. Otway provided some resilience late with an unbeaten 23 to help the Tigers crawl to 9-155 at the end of their 45 overs.