Young Motors Women’s T20 Cricket League round 4: Sporties triumph as Wanderers’ 27-game unbeaten streak ends

Sporties ended Wanderers’ 27-game unbeaten streak in the Young Motors Women’s T20 Cricket League on Sunday at Wonthella. Wanderers were handicapped, only fielding 10 players with Abby Green not among them but it was nevertheless a great win by Sporties. Wanderers’ Olivia Bidwell won the toss and bowled on a day marred by strong winds. They struck first ball with Jess Wake bowled by Ashlyn Thompson (3-9). Kasey Maynard (2-19) then bowled Ellie Blackmore — her 50th wicket — while Layne Gillingham had Georgina Gillman stumped by Charli Bidwell. Belinda Burrows (27) and Shyanne Thomas-Mirrielees (33) added 48 before Burrows was bowled by Chelsea Bidwell. It was her first out this season and she averages 148. Thomas-Mirrielees was caught by Olivia Bidwell off Maynard but Tia Hatch (15) and Stacey Jerrard (12) took the score to 127. Olivia Bidwell (2-13) ended the innings. Wanderers lost an early wicket in the chase with Emily McAuley held by Lucinda Rouse off Gillman (2-23) but steadied through Thompson (16) and Charli Bidwell (40). Gillman had Thompson caught by keeper Stacey McCartney followed by the key wicket of Olivia Bidwell, caught and bowled by Sporties captain Jo Walker (2-12). Walker then castled Layne Gillingham and Thomas-Mirrielees provided McCartney with another catch when she shifted Kyrie Lumley. Wanderers were 5-58 but Charli Bidwell added 48 with Kym Trenfield (16) ended when Stacey Jerrard and McCartney ran out Bidwell. They finished at 8-111. At Mazzuchelli Oval, Towns beat Chapman Valley-Northampton. Towns’ Ruth Vorster won the toss and gave CVN first use. They made just 44. Only CVN captain Kylie Bremner (12) reached double figures. The first six batters’ scores read like binary code: 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1. For Towns, Indiana Burns (3-5), Isabelle MacPherson (3-11) and Vorster 2-2 shone. Towns made 6-119. Isabelle MacPherson (30), Vorster (25) and Ruby MacPherson (12) scored runs while Alexia Wekwerth (1-12) had tidy figures.