Sportsmans get wood on Bluff Point in grand final preview as Pointers suffer collapse

Sportsmans ensured they booked their place in the T20 decider with an emphatic victory over Bluff Point in a preview of the grand final.

Bluff Point was already assured of their final place while Sportsmans were likely to go through but a win would remove any doubt.

Sportsmans won the toss and sent the Pointers into bat on a tricky wicket and a spongy outfield providing very little value for shots.

However, Bluff Point didn’t have the opportunity to play that many shots as they folded for just 57 in 16.3 overs.

Openers Aaron Thomas and Carl Shilling both fell to Brad Mailer (2-12) before Jared Pinto and Callum Joss put on 17 for the third wicket, which was the highest partnership.

Sam Millett (12) was the only batsman to reach double figures thanks mainly to his six off Ben Ingle before he fell the next ball thanks to a sharp catch by keeper Josh McGlynn.

McGlynn took three catches and effected a stumping in a tidy performance as Pointers decided to go down swinging but were rolled for the fifth-lowest total in the competition’s history.

Brad Roworth (3-10) and Jarrod Jupp (3-10) were the pick of the bowlers.

In the chase, Sportsmans were iffy initially as they too found timing difficult with Aaron McAuliffe and Clint Yeates falling cheaply.

But Riley Barham (43 not out) steadied and along with Flynn Dillon (16) saw them work their way past the Pointers’ total with Dillon hitting the shot of the day latching onto a short ball from Matt Russell and hammering into the fence for six.

Roworth hit 39 not out as they batted to 3-129, 60 off the last eight overs.

Towns and Wanderers will battle for the minor placings next week, with the final on February 24.