ADCA 2024-25: Railways get confidence-boosting big win over ladder-leading Royals in Coen Marwick’s 200th game

Railways received a huge confidence boost after securing perhaps the most impressive victory of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade season so far, according to captain Coen Marwick.

The Tigers handed reigning premiers Royals their first loss of the season in devastating fashion, rolling the Lions for less than 100 to notch a crucial double-bonus-point triumph at Turf East on Saturday.

In Coen Marwick’s 200th A-grade match for the club, the Tigers posted 224 runs against the previously undefeated Lions before skittling them for just 90 to sew up a magnificent 134-run win.

Marwick said his side drew enormous confidence from the victory, and found the even contributions they craved.

“We got heaps of confidence and although Royals weren’t 100 per cent full strength, they still had a really good side out there,” he said.

“We did it without our prime movers doing it all, and those young guys stepped up.

“We didn’t have one guy make 50 and we had four or five blokes with 25-plus.

“If we can keep building on that, it’ll push us forward this season.”

After winning the toss and batting first, the Tigers began shakily when Lions seamer Hayden Davies snared opener Billy O’Meara for a third-ball duck.

But the Tigers consolidated with a crucial partnership from Devon Jefferis (25) and Joe Stanley (33), who added a 44-run second wicket stand before Ryan Davies captured Stanley, caught behind.

The Tigers were buoyed by the inclusion of talented Kojonup skipper Liam Want, fresh off a record-breaking ton in the Great Southern Cricket Association.

The aggressive right-hander added 42 runs from 40 balls, including two sixes and two fours, as the Lions took regular wickets around him.

But Want was starved of partners as Lions debutant Riley Bessen ripped through the middle order and claimed a maiden A-grade five-wicket haul.

The tall pacer snared the scalps of Jefferis, Marwick (six) and Alan Pietersen (one) on his way to vital 5-25 from 6.1 overs.

A determined Milan Jaggi scored a patient 36 runs to anchor a courageous 66-run ninth-wicket partnership with Caleb Haua that pushed the Tigers beyond 200.

Milan Jaggi chipped a slow 36 runs from 69 balls, while Haua swung freely for a sublime 48 runs from 39 balls, courtesy of two sixes and two fours.

The pair’s sensational partnership elevated the Tigers to a big total before Bessen pinched both to mark his five-wicket haul and end the Tigers’ innings in the 48th over.

“Milan (Jaggi) read the situation perfectly, and he didn’t have to be the aggressor with Caleb (Haua) there,” Marwick said.

“Caleb takes it on so that was perfect and it helped us bowl with a little bit more freedom and helped us build pressure.

“We took early wickets and then we could really clamp down.”

The Tigers then took their gushing confidence into their bowling innings, sparking a major batting collapse as the Lions lost 8-25.

Haua snared competition-leading run scorer Ryley Valli for five before Ryan Tindale claimed Angus Thompson (27).

Matt France (16) dug in with captain Mitch Green (29) before Marwick castled France and opened the Lions’ floodgates.

No other batter made it past three runs as the Tigers ran rampant, with Marwick (4-18) and Stanley (4-14) single-handedly ripping through the Lions’ line-up and ending their opponents’ innings in the 32nd over for 90.

The Lions won their first T20 of the season on Friday night, smashing Mt Barker by 53 runs.

Emerging all-rounder Teague Valli smashed 41 runs from 29 balls, including one four and three sixes, to help the Lions post 4-172 before they restricted the Bulls to 7-119 in reply.

Jack Pope scored an unbeaten 55 from 51 balls as the Bulls’ main contributor.