ADCA 2025-26: Royals steal A-grade flag with last-ball victory over brave Manypeaks in thrilling grand final

The Albany and Districts Cricket Association’s A-grade grand final was one for the ages as Royals won a thrilling struggle against Manypeaks on Saturday by just one run. Victory gave the Lions their third flag in six seasons, but this was the hardest won as the showdown went first one way then the other on an amazing afternoon at Turf North. It went to the wire, with some spectators saying it was the best grand final they had ever seen as, with just one ball remaining, it could have gone either way. Much had gone before that final ball – and of that, more later – but ultimately it was Lion Hayden Davies versus Peaks’ Cameron Walsh with the title at stake. Walsh needed three to win. Davies, mane flying in the fading light, hurtled to the wicket and delivered a good ball at pace to a decent length. Walsh swung and connected and set off – but could only run a single as the ball was returned to the wicketkeeper’s end where there was a pause as the players realised it was game over, 50 overs done and dusted, with Peaks falling just short on 9-252. Cue Lions joy and Peaks disappointment at coming so close to raising their first flag since 2010-11, their solitary A-grade triumph. After setting Peaks a target of 254 to win courtesy of man-of-the-match Ryley Valli’s 89, the Lions looked to be cruising after removing Thomas Leaver for a duck in the first over and then Seb Stanton in the fifth for just nine runs. But Peaks seem to love the thrill of the chase and Regan Poett, Alby Berridge and Paul Donaldson started to turn the tide. Poett rode his luck after being caught early on off a Jack Hastie no-ball, but he made 34 before being run out by Leighton Smith, at which point, with Peaks at 3-63, Berridge and Donaldson got to work, thumping their side back into contention. It was after drinks midway through their innings that Peaks turned defence into attack with Donaldson’s eventual 90 off 75 balls including four mammoth sixes, two of which cleared the fence onto North Road. He turned a crisis into a riveting drama and was superbly backed up by Berridge who fired 70 runs off 97 balls, bringing up the 200 with a boundary on the first ball of the 39th over. The 141-run partnership was brought to a close when Donaldson was caught by Davies on the square leg boundary off Caleb Haua with 10 overs to go. The shout which greeted that dismissal was trumped only by the glee when Berridge was bowled by Matt Thompson to leave Peaks at 5-221 but with five overs to get the necessary runs. The last ball of the 45th over saw Kane Pinney caught behind by Lincoln Joy off Matt France and then Oliver Douglas was trapped lbw by Thompson for 19. That had Peaks on 7-233 and with 21 balls to get 21 runs. Oh they came close, but Liam Davies was bowled by France for one and Ryan Kinnear was run out by Hayden Parker for four on the fifth ball of the final over. That left Walsh at the crease with Ambrose Clayton and four runs needed for victory. The tension racked up yet another notch when what should have been Davies’ final ball was ruled a wide – so one more to come with three needed as the final drama played out and Royals took the honours. Stanton was disappointed but proud of his players’ efforts in getting themselves back in the game. “It was good to get so close but obviously there’s a feeling of great disappointment,” he said. “We gave it a real go, especially when Alby and Paul were at the crease. “We knew we had to be at our very best and we just weren’t quite good enough – but we will be back even better next year.” For Lions’ captain Mitch Green the flag was reward for a season of hard work and the contribution of Ryley Valli whom he named Mr Grand Final. “We did really well to set them a target of over 250 but when Berridge and Donaldson were being exceptional we could have fallen away,” he said. “They really put us under pressure but full credit to the guys, especially Hayden Davies, because I think we really deserved this premiership.” Ryley Valli’s knock was the best of the Lions’ innings while Harry Grigson (41) and Joy (33) also made key contributions. A brilliant cameo from Parker (22) topped up what was always going to be a decent total as he walloped three sixes in a row late in the day to help the Lions finish 6-253. It was a tough afternoon for the bowlers of both sides with Douglas claiming 2-45 for Peaks and France’s 3-35 being the best for the Lions. Davies was left with figures of 0-54 but the memory of bowling the over at the end which counted for most as his side added to their recent premiership wins of 2020-21 and 2023-24.