Wanderers favourites to go back-to-back but Sportsmans confident they have a path to victory

As the temperatures cool with summer drawing to a close, things are heating up on the pitch as Wanderers and Sportsmans do battle this Sunday for the Young Motors Cricket League title.

The two form teams of the competition will face off at Eadon Clarke Oval at 2pm in a repeat of last year’s grand final.

It looks like a similar result could be on the cards again as Wanderers go in as heavy favourites to defend their title, especially after beating Sportsmans at Muir Park last Sunday.

They boast the strongest batting line-up in the competition and lost only one game all year back in round three — though that was against Sportsmans.

“It’s been an enjoyable season but we won’t be complacent — I expect a tight game like last weekend (when they met in the final round),” Wanderers captain Linda Rose said.

“Sporties has depth with Jo Walker, Tia Hatch, Sarah Prickett and Belinda Burrows, all capable players who can bat or bowl or do both very well and we’ll have to be switched on from the first ball.”

Sportsmans played Wanderers in the 2021-22 decider and Walker said despite the result in the final round, there were positives to take into the final.

“It was good for us because we changed things up completely as because of our good recent form a lot of our girls haven’t had a bat,” she said.

“We took a lot of confidence out of the performance despite the result.”

While Walker accepts the underdog status, she believes they have the tools to come away with the win.

“Wanderers deserve to be favourites — Linda Rose leads them well but we’ve beaten them this season and beat them on turf last season too,” Walker said.

“We have to restrict their batting; if we can keep them to 100 I think we’ll be in the game.

“We’ve got to tighten up the field and with our batting, we’ve got to be a bit daring and go for shots.

“Traditionally we chase better but we’ll see what the pitch is like. Generally Eadon Clarke plays better than Muir Park.”

A playoff for third between Towns and CVN will be played on Sunday at the Rec from 9.30am.

Women’s Country Week players will be presented with playing kits tonight at Wonthella during the change of innings in the men’s T20 final.