Young Motors T20 Cup final: Towns and Wanderers clash promises to be thrilling decider

Towns and Wanderers will meet at Wonthella in Friday night’s Young Motors T20 Cup final in what looms as a thrilling decider.

Towns won all their four qualifiers, including against Wanderers, which might suggest they’re favourites but in fact it’s even money.

Towns boast game-changers in captain Ringo McKenna, who bowls fast left arm and makes quick runs, ‘keeper-batter Jeremy Bedford, who is in great form, and batter Jai Russell, who loves to play Wanderers.

They also have up-and-coming pacer Austin Breen, who can also swing the bat, and brothers Kodi and Darcy Giltrow — the latter only 15 but coming off a maiden T20 50.

Josh DeLacy is a T20 wicket-taker, while Sam Crouch makes runs under pressure and gets wickets when needed.

“All are expected to play,” McKenna said.

“Wonthella isn’t a ground where you get high scores but we have the batting to put a quality score on the board.

“We’re pretty well settled with our batting order and main bowlers but I won’t go into the game with preconceived ideas — we’ll adapt to whatever Wanderers throw at us.”

For Wanderers, WA Country XI player Zane Marwick is back to complement another WA rep in Clayton Bruce-Cherry. They, along with Damien King and Henry Anderson, are top-rated all-rounders.

Ian Oglesby has been solid with bat and ball, pacer Mitch Thompson usually gets early wickets and captain Kade Gillingham is reliable with the gloves and can bat.

“Very exciting to play in a final, hopefully in front of a big crowd — Towns beat us in a T20 this season, so a tough ask but I think it will be close,” Gillingham said.

“We should have our best team so lots of bowling options and a very flexible batting line-up; we’ll take a look at the wicket before the game and go from there.”

Play continues on Saturday with 50-over games in the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League, plus a postponed game on Sunday.

Sportsmans are at Wonthella on Saturday against Bluff Point, while Wanderers play Towns at GBSC Park in a vital game as both are vying for top spot and direct entry to the grand final.

On Sunday, Sportsmans and Chapman Valley will meet at Muir Park in a game originally set for December 16.

In Sunday’s Young Motors Women’s League, it’s the last round of qualifiers.

Wanderers and Sporties are locked in to meet in next week’s grand final and will tune up, with Wanderers playing Towns at the Rec while Sporties meet CVN at Wonthella.

B-Grade: CVN v BP (Mazzuchelli Oval); Don v Wan (Dongara); Twn v Spo (Rec).