Manawatu look for upset

All was not lost after the first day's play in the crucial Hawke Cup qualifying cricket match between Wairarapa and Horowhenua-Kapiti at Paraparaumu on Saturday was washed out.

Pre-game speculation was that Wairarapa would probably need an outright win to have any prospect of earning themselves a Cup challenge against Hamilton the following weekend.

However that changed dramatically when it was learned that Taranaki, sharing the zone competition lead with Wairarapa going into the final series of qualifying games, were in big trouble at the end of the first day's play in their encounter with Manawatu in Palmerston North. Manawatu led by some 60 runs at the end of the first innings and were 199-2 in their second and looked to be on target for maximum points. That being the case, Wairarapa would likely only need a first innings win over Horowhenua-Kapiti to top the points table with Manawatu a close second.

Saturday in Paraparaumu was frustrating for cricketers, with the patchy rain stopping players from taking to the field.

On the home front Red Star and Flight Centre Lansdowne kicked off their Bidwell Cup senior match, with Red Star well on top when stumps were drawn.

Batting first, Red Star made 282, with the highlight being an 87-run partnership for the last wicket between South African Bob Bedingham (59 not out) and John Dudley (40). Other useful contributions came from Joe Hull (36) and Chris Wenden (32). Bowling for Lansdowne, Choi Jackson took 3-50 and James Adamson 2-7.

The Lansdowne first innings never really got going and they were struggling at 97-6 at stumps, Jackson being unbeaten on 20. Bedingham completed an impressive all-round effort for Red Star by taking 2-20 and Peter Sigvertson also claimed 2-20.

In open grade competition, Marist Old Boys set a new club record when they scored 310-7 in their 225-run win against Chanel College First XI at Makoura on Saturday. Gerald Lologa was in dashing form with the bat for Marist Old Boys, smashing 106 before retiring, while Marcus Howie made 36, Owen Kalapu 35 not out and Elliot Bird 33. Sam O'Reilly and Simon Switzer each took two wickets for Chanel, who were all out for 85 in their innings.