Sporties’ Clint Yeates oversees commanding 190-run win over Bluff Point after notching up 23rd career century

The Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League had no shortage of action this weekend, as two Sportsmans’ batters went berserk, while Chapman-Valley Northampton remain in the finals race after upsetting Wanderers. Sportsmans’ Clint Yeates brought up his 23rd A-grade century and steered his side to a 190-run win over Bluff Point at Wonthella during Saturday’s 50-over clash. From 121 balls, Yeates blasted his way to 102 runs, marking his 23rd A-grade ton, which featured seven fours and two sixes. The Pointers lacked bowling options as Sportsmans, who batted after Riley Barham won the toss, made 3-242 with more runs from Ryan Dixon (48), Ben O’Brien (34) and Jarrod Jupp (40 not out). The Pointers made just 52 in the reply. Only Bailey Minissale (15) notched double figures. O’Brien (4-11), Yeates (3-23) and Jupp (2-9) shone. Pointers were also crushed by Sportsmans in Friday’s Young Motors T20, with O’Brien owning the game and lighting up Wonthella more than all its lights combined. His pitiless yet polished 59-ball 95 not out was braced by Yeates (44), setting up Sporties’ 2-157. O’Brien got to 50 in 43 balls, then accelerated. By the last over he was in hyperdrive with four sixes off Mitch McAuliffe. Wonthella’s previous best was Carl Shilling’s 92 (vs Wanderers 2022-23) and the only better score anywhere is Jay Comben’s 100 at Muir Park (BP v CVN 2014-15). All bowlers were mauled except Antonio Paradella (2-11) but O’Brien faced only eight of his 24 deliveries. Bluff Point made 9-56. Minissale (14) top-scored. O’Brien (2-7), who also held a speccy one-hander, Jupp (3-7) and Dan Welsh (3-11) bowled well. In Saturday’s other 50-over clash, CVN mounted an upset 35-run win at Mazzuchelli Oval against Wanderers, owed much to Brad Boyer’s deft bowling changes. He elected to bat and openers Adam Goacher (44) and Courtney McLeod (20) put on 66. Goacher plundered Ashlyn Thompson’s bowling to get the innings away but Wanderers struck when Gus Heberle and Ian Oglesby ran out Goacher. Oglesby (3-23) had McLeod caught by Seb Eastough while Rex Heberle bowled Matt Albanis. Scott Harrison (23) and Gerard Williamson (18) then kept CVN moving. Shayne Bidwell (2-24) bowled Seb Bedford and, next ball, had Jonte Eastough lbw. Eastough wasn’t happy and a five-run penalty for dissent was applied. Boyer survived the hat trick but fell to Gus Heberle (2-22) and the innings ended at 152. Wanderers quickly lost Flynn Heberle in the chase, castled by Harrison, but Bidwell (24) was busy. Then, both Rex Heberle and Bidwell were snared by wicketkeeper McLeod off Boyer (3-20) who also shifted Gus Heberle. Kade Gillingham (30) worked hard while passing 2000 A-grade runs but was brilliantly caught one-handed at wide-ish square leg by Troy Bedford off Goacher (3-11). Goacher then dived forward for a neat caught and bowled to dismiss Colin Culloton as Wanderers lost 5-15 and were all out 117.