Geraldton women’s cricket round 9: Towns pick up first win of the season during league’s first night game

History was created at Wonthella on Saturday when the first club-level night game in the Young Motors Women’s Cricket League was played.

A good crowd saw Towns beat Chapman Valley-Northampton by 18 runs, and notch their first win of the season.

Towns’ Ruth Vorster won the toss and bowled, and for a time CVN looked headed for around 100 runs off their 20 overs.

CVN openers Kylie Bremner (28) and Charlene Miller (19) put on 46 off 10 overs before Miller was dismissed leg before to Dirranie Kirby (2-10), who also had Jess Wilson caught behind by Emma Harris.

The crucial breakthrough came with Bremner caught off Vorster, her first wicket of the season, which is amazing after 15 wickets in 2022-23 and 12 the season before.

Kate Clarkson might have taken the game away from Towns but was out hit wicket to Haylee Coker and CVN stuttered to 4-72.

Towns’ reply began slowly and after seven overs were 19 runs behind CVN. Then Kirby (31), deadly on anything loose, and Vorster (24) put on 39.

Tarni Screaigh (2-10) trapped Kirby in front and two balls later repeated the dose to Rebekah MacLachlan but Vorster stayed cool and added a vital 12 with Indiana Burns.

She was there for the winning runs with Sarah McKay and job done, retired. Her team made 6-90.

“Dirranie and I had a great time batting together,” Vorster said.

“She reminds me to be patient and I remind her to run and rotate strike.

“I knew if I put my head down and focussed, I could help us and it was great to win and to finally get a wicket - thankfully Dirranie held the catch beautifully at short midwicket.”

Vorster also thanked coach Ben Cobley who is leaving town for work.

“We loved his dedication and faith in us,” she said.

On Sunday at GBSC1, Wanderers trampled Sportsmans to take the competition lead.

Wanderers’ Olivia Bidwell won the toss and bowled and Sporties made 6-93. They were 3-7 before Belinda Burrows (47) and Sarah Prickett (19) added 65.

Ashlyn Thompson (2-6) and Sam Biddiscombe (2-12) bowled well while Thompson also ran out Amanda Gundry with a direct hit from midwicket.

Wanderers ran down the target in the 16th over after openers Bidwell (35) and her sister Charli Bidwell (51) put on 86. They made 3-135 with Meg Spalding (26 not out) icing the cake.