Geraldton cricket round 9: Wanderers’ win over Towns guarantees their spot in the finals

Wanderers’ aim of direct entry to the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League grand final firmed with a big win over Towns at the Rec on Saturday.

The minor premier advances directly to the decider and only Towns can displace Wanderers from the top of the ladder, but after being sent in and shot out for only 62, it’s hard to see how that will happen.

The Towns’ attack did save face by bowling out Wanderers for 135 but the Yellowcaps had seven wickets in hand when the target was breached.

Three of Towns’ top four made ducks and fell to Mitchell Thompson (3-17), then Damien King (4-22) took the next four wickets, a haul that included Jeremy Bedford, Ringo McKenna and Jai Russell.

Only Sam Crouch (20) made headway but Anderson (2-22) and Clayton Bruce-Cherry kept the wickets coming.

Just how well Wanderers are doing is shown by the fact six-time cricketer of the year Shayne Bidwell is happy to bat low and hasn’t bowled at all this season, but is still a presence with three catches.

King now has 22 wickets at 9.36 and Thompson 17 at 9.29.

Wanderers lost early wickets in the chase but a patient Zane Marwick (19 off 79 balls), hopefully available for country week, and Bruce-Cherry (26 off 27 balls) steadied.

Marwick was in the middle with captain Kade Gillingham (31) when the game was won. Runs from Anderson (28) took Wanderers to 135.

At Muir Park, Sportsmans’ Jarrad Jupp also elected to bowl and Bluff Point made 101 but would have wanted more as Jay O’Brien (25), Sam Millett (24) and Carl Shilling (15) made starts.

Jupp (3-25) was supported by Clint Yeates (2-19) and Simon Evans (2-7), Brad Mailer conceded only 14 runs off his 10 overs and Glenn Wishart had O’Brien, the Pointers’ key bat, caught by Yeates.

Wishart, a mercurial cricketer who can own a game in a few moments, then opened Sporties’ batting.

He faced the first over from Matt Russell (2-46), creamed his second ball for four which was followed by a wide and then came four, four, four and six for a total of 23 runs.

He was leg before to Jerry Boase (3-11) and his 14-ball 32 was brief, exhilarating and another example of what he does.

At 3-36 the Pointers had some hope but Evans (41) and Yeates (32) snuffed that out. Jupp (17) also made runs and Sportsmans ended on 153. Mitch McAuliffe (3-26) also bowled well.