Geraldton cricket round 8 preview: Towns hope to fix their early season struggles

It’s been a hard start to the season for Towns in the Young Motors Women’s Cricket League. They haven’t come close to winning any of the six games played and only made 437 runs in them at 13.65 runs per wicket while conceding 845 runs at 33.80. But for captain Ruth Vorster, it’s reality, with their past two games against Wanderers coming as losses, but she hopes for a better result against league leaders Sportsmans at the Rec on Sunday. “We’ve been unlucky to face Wanderers on successive weekends, not ideal for team morale but I’m still seeing great things each week,” Vorster said. “Half our team are playing their first season so experienced sides such as Wanderers and Sportsmans are tough. “Learning a new sport as an adult is hard, more so with cricket but we focus on small wins like batting our 20 or 30 overs, taking wickets and catches and not getting golden ducks. “Our fielding and bowling are much improved but batting is the hardest skill for new players to develop and we’re reliant on Dirranie (Kirby), who’s been outstanding, for runs.” Kirby has made 150 runs in the five games she’s played, over 60 per cent of Towns’ runs off the bat. Conversely, Vorster’s own game has gone south with bowling figures of 0-150 and 36 runs at 7.20. “My game is suffering due to distractions that come with being captain,” she said. “In the lead-up to games I’m frantically trying to find 11 players and everything else that needs to be done on top of a demanding full-time job. “I’d love more runs and wickets but even the very best players lose form at times — my primary concern is ensuring our players enjoy themselves enough to keep coming back.” The other women’s T20 match is at Mazzuchelli Oval where Chapman Valley-Northampton, also struggling, face Wanderers. In men’s cricket, Sportsmans play CVN at Wonthella Friday night in a Young Motors T20 at Wonthella, a game Sporties should win but an upset is possible if CVN’s batters get going. On Saturday, in 50-over Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League games, CVN play Bluff Point at Mazzuchelli Oval, a game that could go either way while Sportsmans face Wanderers at Wonthella. B-grade: BP v CVN (Muir Pk); Twn v Spo (Rec); Wan v Don (GBSC1).