Geraldton cricket round 3: Wanderers take home win in T20 while CVN scrape through with one-run win

Chapman Valley-Northampton enjoyed a one-run win over Bluff Point at Mazzuchelli Oval in the annual Len Kupsch game in round three of the Geraldton Cricket action. Rarely in CVN’s 15-years will a Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League win have been so welcome, while the Pointers will still be musing how they lost. CVN’s Routledge batted after he won the toss in the Saturday, October 28 game. His side made 145, with runs from Hayden Dawson (30), Gerard Williamson (25), Routledge (24) and Coen Mason (16). Matt Russell (4-33) did well but Mitch McAuliffe (3-31) had more impact dismissing Routledge, Dawson and Williamson. Bluff Point’s chase was built around brothers Callum Joss (75), who opened and hit his career best, and Aaron Joss (36) with 81 per cent of their side’s runs. At 5-129, Team Joss had put on 65, then Callum was caught behind by Routledge off Mitch Marsh (2-39). In his next over Marsh had Aaron held by Williamson. At 139 Matt Reid was bowled by Zak Williamson (2-32), two runs later Mason ran out McAuliffe. With one run needed to tie and two to win Jeremy Boase was bowled by Hayden Dawson. Man of the match Jack Mickle had a career best 4-14. He removed Jay O’Brien, Russell, Sam Millett and Carl Shilling, a prize quartet. “We were 20 or 30 runs short with the bat, one of our top-order should have scored more,” Routledge said. “Credit to Callum and Aaron, they batted well and their wickets were key, Mason’s run out was huge and Mickle bowled a really good spell, we know he can play but yeah, a bit underrated. “Tense at the end, I was running out of bowling options but we were good enough - lots of little moments to win it.” At GBSC1, Wanderers comfortably chased down Sportsmans’ 177. Sporties’ Riley Barham won the toss and batted and they might have made more runs as Clint Yeates (33) and Brad Roworth (30 not out) were top-scorers so no-one cashed in. Cody Bone (27), on holiday from Karratha, played his first game since 2018-19 with Simon Evans (15), Aaron McAuliffe (25) and James Greenless (15) chiming in. Zane Marwick (3-23) removed Evans, McAuliffe and Jarrad Jupp while Ian Oglesby (3-27) cleared the tail. Wanderers lost five wickets topping the target, King (27) and Marwick (36) set up Bruce-Cherry (77 off 62 balls). Also batting when the game was won was Shayne Bidwell (51 not out), his 49th 50 (he also has 21 100s). Wanderers made 9-217, Evans (3-30) shone while Brad Mailer (2-12) enjoyed spoils at the end. Wanderers won Friday’s Young Motors T20 against CVN at Wonthella, with the Valley making 9-76 thanks to Stuart Gaby (36 not out) and Nigel Routledge (18). Mitch Thompson (2-18), Henry Anderson (2-13) and Clayton Bruce-Cherry (2-25) bowled well, while Damien King conceded just one run off four overs. CVN showed heart in taking five wickets before they lost. Bruce-Cherry (19) and Kade Gillingham (20) scored quickly and a 59-run stand between Oglesby (39) and King (27) took Wanderers to 7-133.