Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League round 4 wrap: Sportsmans on top in thrilling five-run win over Wanderers

Sportsmans enjoyed an exciting five-run win over Wanderers in round four of the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League at Wonthella on Saturday.

Highlights were a Jarrod Jupp hat-trick and Darcy Ingle’s superb 70 not out (79 balls).

Sporties’ Riley Barham won the toss and batted and his side’s 8-186 was founded on a 68-run opening stand by Xavier Bochat (28) and James Greenlees (32). But the run out of Greenlees by an Ian Oglesby return to Kade Gillingham triggered a 5-16 collapse.

Austyn Moulds (2-11) and Zane Marwick (3-13) were the wreckers. Marwick’s haul included Glenn Wishart, now 48 but still a fine batter. He was stumped by Gillingham.

Ingle endured and added 41 with Jupp (24), also stumped by Gillingham off Marwick, and 43 with Barham. Damien King (2-38) took late wickets but could not stop Ingle hitting out at the end.

Wanderers began the chase with openers Oglesby (20) and King (59) making 38, another 60 from King and Marwick and 28 from King and Gillingham (18) to at one stage be 2-126.

But they lost Marwick, caught by Ingle off Jupp (4-23) while Joanne Walker had King held by Barham. Then came the hat-trick.

“The first wicket was out of the fast bowler text book, short ball to a young fella (Colin Culloton) then a yorker, straight through the gate,” Jupp said.

“The second was a shin-high full toss (to Gus Heberle) and the umpire kindly ruled it leg before and the last was with everyone around the bat.

“I hit him (Rex Heberle) right on the front toe, and the appeal is a bigger eruption than Pompeii, bang.”

Gillingham hung on until Wishart got him while Shayne Bidwell (27 off 16 balls) attacked and added 32 with Justin Clarkson, who was bowled by Bochat (2-23). Wanderers all out for 181.

Towns won Saturday’s other game against Bluff Point at Muir Park by five wickets.

Towns’ Ringo McKenna sent the Pointers in and they made 106 with Sam Millett (23) topscore. McKenna (3-16), Seth Farmer (3-17), Josh DeLacy (2-24) and Sam Crouch (2-30) shared the spoils.

Towns lost Jay Comben in the first ball of the reply, caught by Cody Doran to be Mitch McAuliffe’s (2-33) 200th scalp.

But Darcy Giltrow (32 not out), Dan Brimson (20) and Callum Marquis (15) steered Towns home. James Morrison (2-22) also had success.

Friday night’s opening Young Motors T20 at Wonthella went to Bluff Point over Sportsmans.

Pointers’ Jay O’Brien batted after he won the toss and his 38 lifted his team from 4-20 to 8-111. His running between the wickets was brilliant. Millett (17) also made runs.

Sportsmans replied with 75. Only Gus Spalding (17) made headway against Antonio Paradella (3-25), Jayden Rafferty (3-14) and Jeremy Boase (2-13).