ADCA 2024-25: Royals produce sensational show with the ball to down Railways in tense A-grade T20 grand final

Royals are this season’s T20 premiers after a tense grand final victory over Railways under lights on Friday night, successfully defending 116. Intermittent rain didn’t prevent the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade T20 decider from going ahead at Turf North as the Tigers won the toss and sent the Lions in to bat. A fighting half century from Lions star Mitch Green proved the difference, helping his side get out of trouble with the bat before they put the clamps on the Tigers run chase after they got off to a strong start. The Lions, who are the reigning one-day titleholders, only used four overs of spin but they successfully restricted the Tigers in the chase on their way to a tight 14-run victory. The Tigers were 1-33 after six overs and appeared on track to chase down the small total with English all-rounder Joe Stanley in control. However the Lions turned the screws as Matt France bowled Jordan Draper for eight and then youngster Matt Thompson claimed the huge scalp of Tigers skipper Coen Marwick, trapping him in front for a duck in the 10th over. The Tigers scoring slowed and their hopes were dealt a big blow when Stanley tried to ramp Ryan Davies and was clean bowled and then Calub Haua was run out for a duck in a horrible mix up, the very next ball. Limping to 5-71, wicketkeeper-bat Devon Jefferis and senior player Alan Pietersen tried to up the run rate but the disciplined Lions attack drew on their finals experience to close the game out. Jefferis hit three boundaries in his 30 not out and Pietersen was unbeaten on 10 but the Tigers couldn’t find a boundary in the final three overs as they finished 5-102 in reply. Hayden Davies bowled a superb second last over of the game, conceding just five runs, and then Green went for six runs in the final six balls to hand the Lions their second T20 title in three seasons. France (1-18), Matt Thompson (1-20) and Hayden Davies (1-22) were all economical in their four over spells for the winners. Stanley made 33 from 38 after opener Billy O’Meara hit 13 to give the Tigers a fast start. Earlier the Lions slumped to 2-6 after Ryley Valli fell in the first over for a duck and then Tyler Crommelin departed for just one, both out to Haua. Lincoln Joy and France added 15 each but Green was the mainstay of the innings, with an unbeaten 59. A 42-run partnership between Green and Jack Hastie helped the Lions get past 100, as Hastie played a vital cameo with 15 from 16 balls. Green worked the ball smartly, hitting four boundaries in his 59 from 51 balls that was the match winning knock, while also bowling a tidy four overs for just 24 runs. He was recognised as player of the final post-game while young skipper Valli accepted the T20 trophy after his team’s grand final triumph. Haua was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with 2-21 from his four while Stanley returned 1-15 from four.