Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League grand final: Towns win by two wickets over Wanderers in close contest

With only eight balls left, Towns won their 13th overall Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League title on Saturday, despite a valiant effort by Wanderers.

The drama-filled decider at Wonthella unfolded before a big crowd, with Towns’ greater depth providing them the edge in their two-wicket success.

“It was an awesome win and Wanderers fought it out to the very end, they have some promising young players and will only get better,” Towns captain Ringo McKenna said.

“I want to thank my team, all 13 of them for their efforts not just today but over the season and also our supporters — we got it done.”

The battle for the 2024-25 title began when Wanderers’ skipper Kade Gillingham won the toss and batted on a good pitch augmented by a pacy outfield.

His team soon lost Damien King when McKenna (3-26) removed his middle stump and another with 16 on the board when Gus Heberle was caught by Callum Marquis at short cover off Josh DeLacy.

Wanderers steadied through Zane Marwick (56) and Ian Oglesby (36). They were patient — at one stage Oglesby had nine off 60 balls — but added 89 precious runs.

Towns’ bowling was tight with Seth Farmer and Tom Forsyth conceding only 29 runs in a combined 11 overs.

Towns made the break they needed when Oglesby was caught behind by Jeremy Bedford off Kodi Giltrow (4-32). Gillingham, needing to up the run rate, then sent in Shayne Bidwell, which worked for a time.

Marwick brought up a 108-ball 50 but Bidwell perished when he tried to smash McKenna only to find the sure hands of Marquis at deep cover.

Giltrow later had Marwick held by brother Darcy and Gillingham followed when McKenna held a sharp caught and bowled. Two more wickets fell before the close and Wanderers made 8-152.

Towns lost an early wicket when Darcy Giltrow was out for a duck, edging Justin Clarkson to first slip which Bidwell pouched overhead.

Jai Russell (41 off 49 balls) joined Bedford (62) and with Russell intent on attack, they added 75.

Austyn Moulds’ (3-42) first over cost nine runs but Gillingham stuck with the 16-year-old and was rewarded when he took wickets with successive balls in his third over.

The first was Russell, beautifully caught by Oglesby at deep midwicket, then Kobi Giltrow fell next ball for a golden duck to a diving catch from keeper Gillingham.

The crowd, now fully engaged, roared when McKenna, scoreless for 17 balls, hit a catch to Marwick in the gully.

Towns were 4-77 but Bedford, later awarded the Bob Taylor Medal as best player, and Sam Crouch (23) added 52.

They found Marwick (0-15 off 10 overs), who suffered from two dropped catches, hard to get away but survived.

Bedford brought up his 50 with a six but was out when he tried a big hit off Clarkson only to find Rex Heberle at deep midwicket.

Crouch followed, leg before to Oglesby (2-31) after a long deliberation by the umpire. Towns were 7-137 when Moulds calmly ran out Austin Breen with a direct hit.

Oglesby’s second wicket was Josh DeLacy thanks to a brilliant catch from Gillingham, fully extended to his left. DeLacy had made 10 handy runs leaving Towns with four runs to win.

They got them with a single to Marquis and two brave hits from Tom Witt.