While the start of the 2025-26 Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League season is still more than a week away, cricket returns on Saturday.
Geraldton have re-entered the WA Country T20 Cup after an absence of many years, and will host the event.
Other teams competing are Busselton-Margaret River, West Pilbara, Wheatbelt, WA Regional XI, and a Colts XI. Bunbury planned to field a side, but have withdrawn.
Organising a Geraldton side has been a headache for coach Bruce Gillingham as the reality is finding quality players at this early juncture was always going to be difficult.
However, he has succeeded and the team will be led by Ringo McKenna, who captained Geraldton to country week glory last summer.
Geraldton’s campaign opens at 10am on Saturday against Wheatbelt at GBSC Park, followed by a game against a Colts XI from 1.30pm at the Recreation Ground.
On Sunday from 9.30am, Geraldton play West Pilbara at the Rec. There will play-offs for fifth and third places at 1pm at Muir Park and the Rec respectively. The grand final will start at 3pm at Wonthella.
There will also be four women’s T20 games, including a night fixture at Wonthella.
In other cricket news, local teams are preparing for the Bendigo Bank League summer competition, with five teams in A-grade, four in B-grade, and four women’s sides.
The A-grade will again incorporate the Young Motors T20 Cup, which will be played under lights at Wonthella on Friday nights.
A and B-grade competitions start on October 11, with A-grade teams to play 16 games including four T20s.
The preliminary final will be held on March 14, and the grand final on March 21. The T20 final will be on March 6.
B-grade teams play 12 matches. Finals will be played on March 14 and 21.
The Young Motors Women’s Cricket League begins on October 12, with each side to play 12 qualifying games and the top two to meet in the grand final on February 22.
COUNTRY T20 CUP FIXTURES
Saturday October 4: 10am Geraldton v Wheatbelt (GBSC); 10am West Pilbara v Busselton-Margaret River (Rec); 10am Colts v WA Regional XI (Muir). 1.30pm West Pilbara v WA Regional XI (GBSC); 1.30pm Colts v Geraldton (Rec); 1.30pm Wheatbelt v Busselton-Margaret River (Muir).
Sunday October 5: 9.30am Busselton-Margaret River v WA Regional XI (GBSC); 9.30am Geraldton v West Pilbara (Rec); 9.30am Wheatbelt v Colts (Muir). 1pm 5th v 6th (Muir); 1pm 3rd v 4th (Rec). 3pm grand final (Rec).
Women’s matches Saturday October 4: 1.30pm Game 1 (Wonthella); 6pm Game 2 (Wonthella). Sunday October 5: 9.30am Game 3: 9.30am (Wonthella); 1pm Game 4 (GBSC).
