Geraldton women’s cricket round 3: Wanderers back in form with a 45-run win over Towns

Wanderers reasserted dominance in the Young Motors Women’s Cricket League at GBSC3 on Sunday with a 45-run win over an improved Towns. Wanderers captain Olivia Bidwell (66 off 41 balls) played an attacking innings after Towns’ Indi Burns trapped Meg Spalding leg before with her third ball. A few overs later Haylee Coker (2-30), who looks a prospect, bowled Ashlyn Thompson and did likewise to Abby Green. Wanderers rallied after Charli Bidwell (21) added 74 with her skipper to make 5-154. It would have been more if not for tight bowling from Dirranie Kirby (2-15), Coker and Ruth Vorster. Towns were never positioned to reach the target but posted a solid 4-109. Kirby (61 off 52 balls) was the mainstay, a fine innings ended just before stumps when Charli Bidwell and Green ran her out. Kirby and a patient Rebekah MacLachlan had added 68 for the third wicket, MacLachlan was also run out by Charli Bidwell. Thompson (1-10 off four overs) bowled well. At GBSC4 Sportsmans was sent in by Chapman Valley-Northampton and made 5-110. They lost an early wicket when Kylie Bremner (2-14) bowled Sarah Prickett but Stacey Jerrard (22) and Amanda Gundry (29) added 46, a stand ended when Kiara Hutchinson (2-19) castled Gundry. CVN would have fancied their odds in the reply but Jo Walker (2-6) put paid to that with great bowling. She had Charlene Miller caught by Jerrard and Chloe Phillips stumped by Prickett. Ruby MacPherson had Tarni Screaigh caught by Prickett and at 3-9, CVN was in trouble. Jess Wilson (22) and Bremner (36) added 63 but the required run rate had ballooned, they made 6-71. Isabelle MacPherson (2-5), cleverly used in one-over spells, also shone with the scalps of Wilson and Bremner.