Geraldton Bendigo Bank Men’s Cricket League round five wrap: Wanderers’ Shayne Bidwell stars in 350th innings

Saturday’s 50-over game at the Rec produced a three-wicket Wanderers win, with Shayne Bidwell reaching his 350th innings. Towns’ Ringo McKenna won the toss and batted but only Austin Breen (17) fired among the top order. Ian Oglesby (2-20) made inroads and combined with Kade Gillingham to run out Darcy Giltrow. Towns slumped to 5-69 with Gillingham, keeping superbly, effecting three catches and a stumping. Towns rallied through a 111-run stand between Russell (59) and McKenna (58 not out) to make 7-180. Wanderers soon lost Oglesby to Seth Farmer in the reply but Heberle (21) and Marwick (56) bedded in. Then McKenna bowled Heberle, Travis Morgan shifted Gillingham and McKenna had Marwick held by Giltrow. Wanderers lost more wickets to be 6-134. Bidwell, 47, came in for his 350th innings — becoming only the fourth player in the league’s 62-year history to reach that milestone — joining 15-year-old Colin Culloton (third innings). They added 41. Culloton (27) was solid while Bidwell (32 not out off 24 balls) was there when it was won. A Jay O’Brien century for Bluff Point and two Wanderers wins over Towns lit up the weekend’s Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League. O’Brien’s ton drove the Pointers to victory over Chapman Valley-Northampton at Muir Park. His unbeaten 102 (102 balls) featured three sixes and nine fours. Bluff Point’s innings was anchored by Mitch McAuliffe (27) — the platform for O’Brien and Theo Curtis (44) to add 93. The Pointers made 7-214. Though expensive Brad Boyer (4-62) had success. CVN lost their captain early in the chase when Axis Hutchinson was caught by Antonio Paradella off Matt Russell (2-36), then Nigel Routledge (49) and Zak Williamson added 73. Routledge was held by Russell off McAuliffe (2-40) and Williamson’s obdurate innings of 12 (108 balls) ended when out to James Morrison (4-42). Though there were runs from Adam Goacher (23), Peter Maxwell (48 off 41 balls) and Mitch Marsh (19), CVN was done for 184. Wanderers beat Towns by 11 runs in a Young Motors T20 at Wonthella on Friday. Wanderers’ Gillingham elected to bat and his side made 6-97 thanks to Zane Marwick (33) and Damien King (38no). Sam Crouch (3-15) and Josh DeLacy (2-20) bowled well. In the reply, Towns crashed to 5-14 against Jason Partington (2-3) and King (3-11) who shared the new ball and bowled unchanged. The required run rate was now beyond Towns though Crouch (40) added 56 with Jai Russell (28no). But Marwick (1-15) dismissed Crouch, superbly held low down in the deep by Gus Heberle to seal the deal.