Geraldton cricket round 10: Towns secure their spot in T20 Cup Final after double wins over Pointers

Towns have booked their place in the Young Motors T20 Cup final after a solid win over Bluff Point at Wonthella on Friday night.

Though two qualifying games remain, Wanderers and Towns’ positions as the top two on the T20 ladder won’t change.

The game was also the annual Craig DeLacy fixture, which honours the memory of one of local cricket’s most loved people who was involved with both clubs.

Towns batted first after Ringo McKenna won the toss and made 8-120 which at Wonthella, is setting a challenging target.

Sam Crouch (31) and Kodi Giltrow (40) made runs with a handy unbeaten 11 at the death from Tom Witt.

Matt Russell (2-27), Carl Shilling (2-18) and Mitch McAuliffe (2-27) shone while Jay O’Brien held four grabs including a stunning running catch taken over his shoulder at wide mid-off to shift Giltrow.

Bluff Point made a bright start in the chase but lost momentum after Crouch bowled a maiden and Tom Forsyth conceded only 11 runs off three overs.

O’Brien (26) rallied his team adding 40 with Aaron Joss (17) while Russell looked good with his innings highlighted by an amazing leg-side flick that floated over the boundary.

However, the required run rate was always an issue and the Pointers finished at 9-105.

Travis Morgan (2-16), Giltrow (2-13) and Josh DeLacy (2-31) shared most of the spoils while gloveman Jeremy Bedford impressed with two catches and a stumping.

These sides also met on Saturday in a 50-over Geraldton Bendigo Bank League game and Towns were big winners.

Bluff Point batted after O’Brien won the toss but were done for only 92. McAuliffe (21) held out for 65 balls before he was bowled by Giltrow (4-13) who was on his way to a career-best haul.

Shilling (16) and Russell (16) made headway but the attack was too good with Morgan (2-13) and DeLacy (2-12) also doing well.

Towns lost only two wickets in securing the win thanks to a 73-run stand between Bedford (75) and Giltrow (33). Towns then powered away to finish at 7-217 for a 125-run victory.

Austin Breen (34 not out) took 4, 4, 6, 6 and 4 off the last over bowled by Jeremy Boase (2-43) and Seth Farmer (25) hit out too. New player Cody Doran (2-28) also had success with the ball.