Young Motor’s Women’s T20 Cup mid-season review: Sporties and Wanderers are miles ahead of CVN and Towns

With last weekend’s Bendigo Bank Cricket League bye because of the Ashes Test in Perth, a look at the current state of play in the Women’s Young Motors T20 Cup is timely. The competition is now in its seventh season and while the overall club level standard is good, it’s proving to be an uneven competition. Wanderers, chasing a fifth successive title, and Sporties, are miles ahead of Chapman Valley-Northampton and Towns. Wanderers and Sporties have two more qualifying games against each other and their grand final meeting is locked in. Wanderers lead the table with a 5-1 record. Their best bat is Olivia Bidwell (218 runs at 36.33). She is on track to be the first female to cross 2000 career runs. Next are Abby Green (128 at 32.00) including a 98 against CVN, and Charli Bidwell (104 at 17.33). Their batting then falls away but Ashlyn Thompson and Layne Gillingham are no mugs and Kym Trenfield has twice made runs under pressure. Their attack is superb. Thompson (10 wickets at 3.50) and Green (seven at 4.85) lead with Kasey Maynard and Chelsea and Olivia Bidwell each on five wickets. Sporties are second with a 5-1 record which includes ending a Wanderers’ unbeaten run at 27 games. They have a star recruit in Shyanne Thomas-Mirrielees (212 runs at 106.00) including a century that provided the bulk of an association record 142 runs for the first wicket with Jess Wake (81 at 20.25). Belinda Burrows (159 at 79.50) is also a quality bat and Stacey Jerrard, Tia Hatch and Georgina Gillman are handy. Thomas-Mirrielees (eight wickets at 9.00) bowls too with support from Jo Walker (six at 11.00) and Hatch (four at 16.00). Ellie Blackmore and Gillman are steady. Towns are third with a sole win against CVN. Only Isabelle MacPherson (82 runs at 13.66) has had some batting success though Ruth Vorster has yet to fire. With the ball, Indiana Burns (10 wickets at 9.40) has shone while MacPherson (eight at 15.50) is consistent. CVN with a solitary win against Towns have struggled. Alexia Wekwerth (73 runs at 12.16) has been their best bat with Kylie Bremner overdue. With the ball, Chloe Phillips (seven wickets at 27.57) is expensive at times but takes wickets while Bremner, Wekwerth and Tarni Screaigh have five wickets each. Cricketer of the Year points: Shyanne Thomas-Mirrielees (Sporties) 342, Olivia Bidwell (Wanderers) 313, Abby Green (Wanderers) 263, Ashlyn Thompson (Wanderers) 214, Isabelle MacPherson (Towns) 212, Belinda Burrows (Sporties) 179, Charli Bidwell (Wanderers) 174, Indiana Burns (Towns) 156, Alexia Wekwerth (CVN) 148, Chloe Phillips (CVN) 138.