Charleville v Wanderers

18 August 2024 at Charleville State High School

Wanderers was formed in Queensland during 1933 by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, with the aim to encourage young people to play and enjoy the game of cricket. Today the Club plays mid-week matches each Summer, mostly against schools in the State's south-east, and undertakes an annual 10-12 day playing and coaching tour of country centres. Tours in recent years have taken Wanderers west to Eromanga, South to Yetman and North to Charters Towers. 

The Club relies upon its own fund-raising resources and sponsors to finance its activities including supporting youngsters in coaching clinics and on tours.

In August 2023, the Wanderers Annual Tour took in Goondiwindi, St George, Roma, Tambo, Barcaldine, Emerald and Springsure. The 2024 tour will head west to Quilpie, via Mitchell and Charleville, then loop back via Cunnamulla, St George and Warwick.
Apart from the cricket, the tourists will be edified by stops at various country pubs and tourist attractions. If you are a cricketer, golfer, lawn bowler or just an avid observer/supporter, please visit the Wanderers Club QLD Inc. Facebook page and register your interest.

Up early and on the road again to Charleville. A good turn out of youngsters were on hand for some expert coaching from the Wanderers before the game. Tents were erected in a copse of gum trees at the corner of the school ground; a lovely rustic setting. 

James Kleinschmidt and Jared Spies opened the batting for Wanderers and were confronted with some tight bowling by Darcy Gadsby and Argentinian international Mariana Martinez. It was Mariana who provided the initial breakthrough with a beautiful yorker that knocked over Kleinschmidt’s castle.  It was 2/45 in the 13th when Harry Russell got the edge of Jared Spies bat for Chris Skinner to take a very good catch behind the stumps. Hayden and Tom Doherty came together adding 60 from the next 12 overs, before Tom perished, caught at mid-on by Harry Russell of brother Ollie. Chris Skinner picked up a second catch when Gecko Leonard edged Jesse Short in the 28th over bringing Lance Roudenko to the wicket. A run-a-ball partnership ensued. Hayden brought up a 50 from 69 balls and went on to record 69, before Mariana returned and had him caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Darcy Gadsby. Gadsby picked up a wicket of his own in the next over and Patty Short chimed in with another a few balls later to make it 7/161 with 3 overs to go. Lance Roudenko (43; four 6s) then put the foot down adding another 28 valuable runs in partnership with Shane Wyatt (4) to bring the total to 7/189 from the allocated 40 overs.

Charleville got off to a rollicking start with Alex Turnbull plundering the bowling for a quickfire 32 from 25 balls before James Kleinschmidt broke through his defence and scattered the stumps. Tambo’s Alex Josefski joined Zach Jones for a patient 23 from 44 balls, but a “turn-back-the-clock'‘ catch by Brad Murphy at slip off Om Bhikadiya, ended the partnership and precipitated a collapse for the hosts. Six wickets fell for 22 runs in the space of six overs with Callum Atchison picking up 3 (Om Bhikadiya and Joost terBals taking good catches); Kleinschmidt a second wicket and Shane Wyatt spectacular bowled…stumps all over the place. At 7/89, it could’ve been all over but for a fighting 17 over collaboration between Patty Short and Dugall Shaw. The pair added 81 runs, running aggressively and finding boundaries to bring Charleville back into the game. At the end of 33 overs, 42 were needed from the final 7 overs. By the end of 37, it was 23 from 18. Some inspired bowling by Jared Spies finally broke the partnership at the end of the 38th; Patty Short bowled, after a fine innings, for a top score of 39. Spies also claimed Shaw at the start of the 40th when Hayden Doherty accepted the edge. Wanderers claiming a victory by just 8 runs.

A very entertaining game with some great young talent on show.

President Brad Murphy paid tribute to Andrew Short and skipper Alex Turnbull for arranging the fixture and also to those players who had travelled to take part. Patty Short and Mariana Martinez were presented Wanderers caps for their batting and bowling efforts.

A sumptuous dinner at the Charleville RSL followed where Callum Atchison of Wanderers was presented a shirt and cap for his 3 wickets.