City Slickers upset Sports

City Slickers’ Jodie Spall prepares to crack one in her team’s Division One win over Sports on Saturday.

Rob Williams

JUST when thoughts are turning to the top three and semi-finals, City Slickers have thrown a spanner in the works.

The bottom-placed Slickers proved they are no easybeats with an upset outright win over second-placed Sports on Saturday.

Slickers were inspired by Jodie Spall, whose first innings 7-20 with the ball and 18 with the bat set up the win.

Sports were all out for 35 in their first innings and Slickers responded with 71.

Senior Slickers player Simone Harding paid tribute to Spall.

“Jodie is always very consistent with her bowling,” she said.

“She is our main strike bowler and one of the quickest in the Ipswich competition.”

When Sports were bowled out for 45 second time around Slickers needed just 10 to win, with Spall hitting nine of them.

“It was a good day for Slickers all round,” Harding said.

“We won both first and second division which is a bit of a rarity.”

Harding, who took 3-7 in Sports second innings, conceded it had a bit to do with Sports missing a number of players on representative duty, but her team still had to be good enough.

“It was fairly even (during Sports second innings),” she said.

“We thought if we got wickets early on we were a big chance.

“We knew we didn’t need too many (to win) and fortunately Jodie was able to finish it off.”

Harding knows Slickers need greater depth to pose more of a threat next season.

“We do have some good players but need a number of fill-ins each week,” she explained.

“What we need to do is recruit some players to make our first division team more consistent.

“But we are competitive when we get on the field, which is really important for the competition.

In the weekend’s other Division One match, table topping Wildcats (59 and 36) defeated Occasionals (50 and 42) outright.

Slickers will not be contesting the finals so Harding was happy to give her thoughts on the likely champions.

“Wildcats have been so consistent this season,” she said. “They’re an impressive side and the ones to beat.”