Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League: Towns beat Wanderers to regain top spot in men’s A-grade

None of the weekend’s Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League games echoed the drama of the T20 final but the results were still interesting.

Towns beat Wanderers by 52 at GBSC Park to regain the competition lead.

Wanderers batted after Ringo McKenna sent them in and tallied 127. Josh DeLacy (2-24) made early inroads and McKenna (3-17) and Jai Russell (3-29) did the rest.

Towns lost only three wickets to win on the way to 5-179, with runs from Darcy Giltrow (22), Jeremy Bedford (35), Austin Breen (23), Kodi Giltrow (49) and McKenna (30 not out).

Bluff Point enjoyed an upset 76-run win over Sportsmans at Wonthella in the other Saturday game.

Sportsmans batted first and though Josh McGlynn (24) and Jarrod Jupp (22) made starts, none of the top six prospered against Antonio Paradella (3-33) and Jeremy Boase (3-23). They were all out for 133.

Ethan Johnson (34) found handy late runs and the Pointers finished at 6-209.

Mitch McAuliffe (55) scored his maiden A-grade 50 and added 119 for the second wicket with Jay O’Brien (76). Matt Ireland (32 not out) also shone. Xavier Bochat (2-26) had the best bowling return.

On Sunday, Sportsmans were tested by CVN at Muir Park in a game postponed from December 16. Due to extreme heat, a T20 was played.

CVN would have been happy with 4-153 forged by Jack Dawson (42), Zak Williamson (38), Stuart Gaby (22 not out), Axis Hutchinson (18) and Nigel Routledge (18 not out). Brad Mailer (2-26) bowled nicely.

Sportsmans lost seven wickets getting the runs needed and was all out for 166 for a 13-run win.

They would have struggled but for a fluent innings by Clint Yeates (80), who added vital second-wicket runs with Riley Barham (18).

CVN was back in the race when Yeates was bowled by Routledge (2-28), but Bochat (32 not out) did the rest despite Mitch Marsh taking 4-22.