Young Motors Women’s Cricket League: Wanderers cement favourite status in win against Sportsmans

Wanderers have shown again what everyone involved in local cricket already knows: their women’s team is a seemingly unstoppable freight train.

One round remains in the Young Motors Women’s Cricket League, then Wanderers and Sportsmans will meet in a grand final in which Wanderers will be hot favourites.

They also played last Sunday at GBSC Park where Wanderers, even without pace bowler and handy bat Ashlyn Thompson, defeated Sporties by 56 runs — a wide margin for a T20 game.

Sporties did beat Wanderers back in October, though Wanderers were not only missing key players that day, they were two players short.

However, at close to full power, Wanderers easily bested Sporties in what was close to a grand final rehearsal, bearing in mind Sporties were missing their best player and captain, Jo Walker.

Wanderers batted after captain Olivia Bidwell won the toss. With Bidwell (31 not out) in form, they made 5-124, with more runs from Meg Spalding (33), Charli Bidwell (26) and Layne Gillingham (17).

Tia Hatch (1-10 off four overs) caught and bowled Abby Green cheaply, while Lauren Newman (1-18) also had some success.

Sporties replied with 6-68. Only Belinda Burrows (15) made headway, though there was fight from Valencia McAuliffe and Stacey Jerrard.

Wickets were shared but it was a special moment when Olivia Bidwell bowled Maddy Hughes, as it was her 50th wicket.

Chapman Valley-Northampton won the other match at the Rec by 12 runs even though, curiously, Towns didn’t lose a wicket.

Towns’ Ruth Vorster won the toss and chose to bat, and openers Dirranie Kirby (33 not out) and Emma Harris (17 not out) batted though the innings to end at 0-63.

Towns defended their runs well, with CVN needing 14 of their overs to secure the win.

They lost two early wickets but a stand of 38 between Kylie Bremner (24) and Chloe Phillips (14) took them to the cusp of victory. Corinne Lynch (2-14) and Kirby (2-16) were best of the bowlers.