Young Motors T20: Sporties start finals season in style as terrific bowling display guides them to T20 title

Sportsmans have claimed the first of the two men’s cricket titles up for grabs this season, bagging the Young Motors T20 title last Friday night at Wonthella. It caps off a brilliant undefeated run in the T20 competition, and should give them tremendous confidence heading into this fortnight’s 50-over finals series in the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket season. With a target of 111 runs to win, Towns looked like they were on track to bring it home, but in just one over, Sportsmans’ bowler and Player of the Match Matt Greenlees took control, taking his side to the 32 run win. Towns captain Sam Crouch won the toss and bowled, as Scorpions openers Ben O’Brien and Clint Yeates (11) got to work, putting on an untroubled 44 run partnership. This ended when Yeates was caught by Austin Breen off Tom Witt (3-12) before O’Brien brought up his third 50 in four T20s this summer. “Not many hit the ball the way Ben does and he’s averaged over 100 in the T20s opening which is unheard of,” said Sporties captain Riley Barham. Later, Darcy Ingle was dismissed for eight, caught by Darcy Giltrow running in from the boundary from Witt’s bowling. Witt and Kodi Giltrow (0-14) cut the run rate down as Sporties were 3-70 following Flynn Dillon’s dismissal — superbly snared by Harrison Steel, also off Witt. Tom Forsyth took O’Brien’s wicket, finishing on 56 off 55, including three fours and two sixes. Skipper Riley Barham (14) and Jarrod Jupp (13 not out) took the tally to 6-110, at the end of the 20 overs. In the chase, Towns lost Jay Comben early to Yeates, with Jupp taking the catch. However, Kodi Giltrow and brother Darcy ran with dare to add 37 and steady the partnership before Kodi was caught behind for 14 off the first ball of a one-run over. It marked the beginning of a terrific spell from Greenless, who snagged a crucial four-wicket haul for just three runs to see Sporties over the line. “Matt’s spell was awesome, he made it hard to score - he’s been doing that for a while but it all went right for him,” Barham said. He and Daniel Welsh proved to be a handful, as Welsh claimed the other four scalps for 16 runs. Breen followed, bowled by Dan Welsh while Darcy Giltrow’s attempt to ramp Greenlees saw him bowled for 32 off 36. The parade continued as Towns lost 8-12 to end at 9-78, with five players getting ducks. In a saving grace for Towns, who could have been all out in the final over, three last-over chances for wickets were dropped. In Saturday’s Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League, Towns beat Sportsmans at Wonthella in a 50-over game. Towns made 119 with runs from Kodi Giltrow (27), Breen (22), Darcy Giltrow (21) and Josh DeLacy (17). Zak Williamson (2-30), O’Brien (2-20) and Greenlees (2-15) shone. Sporties replied with 105. There were runs from Jupp (21) and Simon Evans (17). Breen (3-19), Kodi Giltrow (3-21) and Crouch (2-30) bowled well. The CVN and Bluff Point game was cut to 40 overs after rain at Nabawa forced a move to Muir Park. CVN made 145 after being 5-59 thanks to Mitch Marsh (40), Seb Bedford (23 not out) and Troy Bedford (17). Harsh Patel (4-27) and Cody Doran (5-26) were effective. The Pointers were 5-21 but Seb Bainbridge (34) and Patel (28) got them to 119. Adam Goacher (3-28), Alex Jones (2-8) and Marsh (2-24) shared spoils.