Korol puts Wanderers under his spell to lead Sportsmans to stunning victory as Towns crush Bluff Point

Observers of the Sportsmans and Wanderers clash on Saturday were treated to a fantastic spectacle as Sportsmans claimed their second win in two days. Shayne Bidwell went past the 10,000 run mark less than 24 hours after Clint Yeates passed the mark, but was undone by Andrew Korol who turned the game around with his deadly accuracy. Yeates chose to bat after he won the toss and Sporties made 9-197 with input from Yeates (51), Jarrod Jupp (25), Riley Barham (19) and Flynn Dillon (45). Yeates, fresh off his 56 not out in the T20 on Friday, was still in the run-scoring mood after a cluster of wickets fell in the top order. Aaron McAuliffe, Barham and Andrew Korol all fell in the space of 12 balls as Calyton Bruce-Cherry rocked Sportsman’s to leave them 3-29. That became 4-55 when Bidwell had Darcy Ingle caught to inch closer to 600 wickets on a pitch offering just a hint of movement. Yeates, as he was on Friday night, was supreme once again with hard running and great control, putting on 46 runs with Jarod Jupp before Jupp fell to Jack Annison. Another big partnership followed as Flynn Dillon joined Yeates putting on 66 for the sixth wicket with Yeates bringing up his second 50 in as many days before Bruce-Cherry returned to have him caught behind. That brought on a remarkable collapse as Bruce-Cherry ripped through the lower order to take figures of 5-24 as Sportsmans fell to 9-172 after being 5-167. Daniel Welsh and Brad Meiler ensured Sportsmans batted out their overs to push them to 197 which is their best score this season, but much less then they would have been hoping for given their position. Wanderers have been struggling for runs in recent weeks but got off to a flying start thanks to Bidwell who needed 42 runs to join the 10,000 club less than 24 hours after Yeates made it in. He flew past the mark and then some as he put on 97 for the first wicket with Gus Heberle in just over 20 overs. Heberle fell for 31 trapped in front by McAuliffe before Jimmy Hyde was caught behind after attempting to swivel against Welsh while Bruce-Cherry went soon after for 10. But Bidwell moved into the 90s with a delightful shot through cover after shimmying down the wicket to Welsh and at 3-155 with their best bat Gillingham at the crease it seemed the Wanderers would ease it home. Then Welsh bowled Gillingham before one of the most remarkable spells of bowling completely changed the game. Korol with no sense of romance bowled Bidwell for 96 off just 87 balls to leave him short of a 22nd century and suddenly it was game on at 5-155. It was then suddenly over as in his next over he bowled Annison and Riley Jupp for ducks with his tail well and truly up in an awesome display of fast bowling. Jason Partington resited with Justin Clarkson for 14 runs before Partington was bowled at 8-174. Rex Heberle was next to get castled before Austyn Moulds was run out the next ball in calamitous circumstances as Clarkson, desperate to get on strike, went for a run that wasn’t on allowing Korol to run up and break the wickets at the bowlers’ end. The Wanderers lost 7 for 21 as Korol took 5-31, all of them bowled, plus the run out in one of the all-time great spells as Sportsmans somehow came away 20-run victors. In the other match, Towns regained the competition lead with a 100-run win over Bluff Point at Muir Park. The Pointers made only 94 which would have been worse but for Jay O’Brien (45) who was the last man out. Austin Breen (3-17) and Ringo McKenna (3-14) shone with support from Kodi Giltrow (2-14) and Tom Forsyth (2-12). Towns lost four wickets securing the target with Nathan Podmore (45) the anchor. Josh DeLacy (18), McKenna (31) and Jai Russell (27) took Towns to 194. Matt Russell (2-17), Antonio Paradella (2-36) and Ryan Forrester (2-26) were multiple wicket-takers.