Sportsmans to play Wanderers at Wonthella for T20 finals spot against Towns in Geraldton men’s cricket

A stroke of luck with fixtures means there is effectively a preliminary final on Friday in local cricket.

Sportsmans play Wanderers at Wonthella, with the winner earning a shot against Towns in the big dance of the Young Motors T20 competition.

For Sportsmans, key batters are captain Riley Barham and Clint Yeates, while Jarrod Jupp, with six wickets at 10.50 in three T20s this season, will be vital with the ball.

Wonthella is not batsman-friendly but Shayne Bidwell and Clayton Bruce-Cherry are shot-makers. Gus Heberle could have a say with the ball, along with Digby Gallop who has had success in this format.

Play in the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League’s 50-over games continues tomorrow with Sportsmans and Bluff Point, both vying for a finals berth, to meet at Wonthella.

For the Pointers, much will depend on Jay O’Brien. He has 338 runs this season at 37.55.

His batting is like compound interest. He tends to start slowly — at one stage last week he had 11 off 65 balls — but gradually patience pays off and once settled his runs come at an ever-faster pace.

For Sportsmans, Yeates could reach 10,000 A-grade runs. On Tuesday he was on 9921.

Another closing in on 10,000 is Bidwell, who was on 9875 runs earlier this week.

His primary aim, of course, will be to help Wanderers beat CVN at GBSC1.

He won’t have forgotten that the last time these teams played a 50-over game, CVN won.

In Young Motors women’s cricket, the final round of qualifiers is set down for Sunday.

At GBSC4, Wanderers play CVN with a lot of interest in the battle between Wanderers’ duo Olivia Bidwell and Sam Biddiscombe for Cricketer of the Year.

Key players for CVN include co-captains Kylie Bremner and Kate Clarkson, who respectively have 426 and 440 career runs, way more than anyone else in their team.

The other match is between Towns and Sportsmans at GBSC3.

Sportsmans will be in next week’s grand final and will want focus.

One to watch is Sporties captain Jo Walker, one of the league’s leading all-rounders, with 435 runs and 32 wickets to her name.

For Towns, Pam Micke and Dirranie Kirby will surely have an impact.

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