Bluff Point misses chance to go top as Sportsmans keep themselves in the hunt in Geraldton Cricket League

It was an intriguing final round for 2022 in the Geraldton Cricket Team as Bluff Point missed an opportunity to go top of the ladder into Christmas. Towns, who had the bye, lead standings from Bluff Point who fluffed a chance to usurp them with a loss to Wanderers by 49 runs. Muir Park has proved a sticky wicket to bat on in recent weeks for both men and women which no doubt influenced Jay O’Brien’s decision to send Wanderers in to bat after winning the toss. It looked to be a good call early as the Wanderers were reduced to 3-23 thanks to Carl Shilling’s (2-25) early incision and two brilliant direct hit run-outs from O’Brien at mid-off. Wanderers rallied through Jim Hyde (38) and Kade Gillingham (25) but then Hyde fell to Mitch McAuliffe, caught after mistiming a lofted drive to mid-off, while Gillingham tried a cut too close to his body to be caught behind off to O’Brien (2-32) with Clayton Bruce-Cherry (15) falling to Jayden Pinto to be 6-99. But Jason Partington launched a stunning counterattack coming in at five with 97 off just 74 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. He worked the tail including a 49-run partnership with Mitchell Thompson with Thompson only scoring four while he put on 38 for the last wicket when in the final over he was caught on the pull, off Antonio Paradella, to fall just short of a well-deserving century and guiding Wanderers to 225. The Pointers started the chase well as O’Brien (41) attacked and put on 51 with Ryan Forrester but Mitch Thompson (3-33) bowled both Forrester and Shilling to halt the Pointers’ momentum. Pinto (18) was out to Clarkson (3-40) who also claimed the key wicket of O’Brien, finding some extra bounce to have O’Brien fending straight to slip. The slide continued with the wickets of Aaron Joss and Matthew Russell before Matthew Reid (29) stemmed the bleeding but ran out of partners and was the last to fall, bowled by Hyde, as Pointers lost 7-71 to finish all out for 176. In the other clash, Sportsmans beat Chapman Valley-Northampton to leave them marginally trailing Wanderers in fourth place. Sportsmans won their game against CVN at Mazzucchelli Oval thanks to even batting and spin magic from Dan Welsh (5-32). Sportsmans’ Clint Yeates batted after he won the toss and there were runs throughout the top order from Darcy Ingle (37), Riley Barham (34), Yeates (28), Jarrod Jupp (25 not out) and Flynn Dillon (42 off 20 balls). Only Kip Allen fell in single figures as all batters got themselves in but none managed to convert those starts into a big score. Zak Williamson (2-27) and Mitch Marsh (2-33) shone while keeper Kurt Crudeli held four catches but Sportsmans made a competitive 7-218. The Rams have struggled with their batting all season and after a bright start from openers Cody Slootmans (23) and Axis Hutchinson (15) looked in trouble at 3-58. However Jack Dawson (44) and Taj Satie (36) put on 67 for the fourth wicket before both fell in quick succession to the spin of Walsh before Nigel Routledge (40) took the Rams to within striking distance before he was also caught off Walsh. The tail fell away quickly from there as they lost 5-4 to close at the innings with Walsh the star with (5-32) proving to have the golden arm on the day. B-GRADE RESULTS Towns 9-145 (Dan Brimson 43, Tom Witt 39, Elliot Delaney 21, Seth Farmer 15 not out, Michael Renwick 2-19, Adriano Paradella 2-29, James Cranley 2-37, Ben Ingle 2-38 def Sportsmans 72 (Ben Ingle 22, Seth Farmer 5-9, Tom Witt 2-4, James Gardiner 2-24) at Wonthella. Chapman Valley-Northampton 139 (Scott Harrison 32, Nathan Mawer 25, Paul Warhurst 3-18, Matt Taylor 3-39, Peter Maxwell 2-29) lost to Bluff Pt 6-160 (Theo Curtis 43 not out, Paul Warhurst 27, Brett Marendaz 19, Jason Staiger 17, Nathan Mawer 3-30, Paul Simmons 3-37) at GBSC1. Wanderers def Dongara (on forfeit) at GBSC3.