Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League round 8: Bluff Point to face Sportsmans to stay in contention with top 3

Wanderers and Sportsmans open round eight in this weekend’s Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League in a Young Motors T20 match at Wonthella on Friday night. Wanderers have a 1-1 record in this series and need a win to boost hopes of making the T20 final. Sportsmans will be in the first of their four qualifiers. Sportsmans also have a 50-over game on Saturday against Bluff Point at Muir Park. Pointers captain Cody Doran knows his team is at risk of falling too far behind the top three. “I feel we play great cricket in parts of games but have lapses where the game gets away from us,” Doran said. “Having a win and fixing those lapses will hopefully get us momentum heading into the break.” The Pointers made only 110 last week to set up a six-wicket Towns win. Doran said batting adjustments were planned. He also said Carl Shilling would not play many more games this season while Jay O’Brien, the club’s best player, would remain unavailable. “We’ll make a few tweaks to our batting but the good thing is there’s spots up for grabs for blokes that want them,” Doran said. “Carl is golf captain at the Geraldton Golf Club so busy on Saturdays while Jay is unlikely to return this season. “But we have a massive opportunity against Sportsmans to put a full game together and state we’re a top-three side.” Saturday’s other 50-over game is at Mazzuchelli Oval between Wanderers and Chapman Valley-Northampton. In the Young Motors Women’s T20 League, there’s a night game on Saturday at Wonthella from 6.30pm between Sporties and CVN. Sporties are favoured but if Katie Clarkson again lines up for CVN, their chances improve. Sunday’s game is at GBSC Park with Towns unlikely to beat Wanderers. Towns are a work in progress and captain Ruth Vorster is happy with her side’s direction. “Despite our losses, I believe we’re a lot more competitive,” Vorster said. “Our fielding has come a long way and our batting intent and running between wickets is much improved thanks to guidance from our coach Gerard (Marquis). “We have bowling options, Indi (Burns) and Isabelle (MacPherson) are bowling seamers at pace but we’ve struggled with consistency and that’s OK, we’re developing. “Kaylee (Francis), one of our bowlers, is young but matured since she started playing last season.” Sadly for Towns, Ruby Koppen, another promising young bowler, is injured but Vorster is upbeat. “We’ve not had our batting, bowling and fielding all clicking at once, but look out when we do. “We’re enjoying our cricket, staying positive, encouraging each other and grateful for the time and effort Gerard gives us.” B-grade: Sportsmans v Dongara at Wonthella; Kalbarri v Towns at Kalbarri; Wanderers v Bluff Pt at GBSC.