A captain’s double from Quinn Childs saw the Barbarians take the lion’s share of points over Burger King Red Star on Saturday and maintain their lead in the Bidwill Cup premier cricket championship.
Childs scored 94 in the Barbarians’ total of 200–9 declared and then snared three wickets for 12 runs as Red Star battled to 139–8 in the second-round match at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
On a day when both games were shortened after morning rain, the Barbarians took advantage of being able to bat their full 55 overs, leaving Red Star a demanding target of eight runs an over to take the first innings points.
A total of 200 looked a big ask when Childs strolled to the centre with his side struggling at 10–2, but he and cousin Caleb Burling [30] dug in, adding 62 runs for the third wicket.
Childs was then joined in two useful 37-run partnerships with Jack Wakeling [16] and Hugo Wakeling [10], and when he was dismissed at 178–7, the Barbarians were in control.
Childs’ innings was a mix of patience and aggression, having faced 125 balls and hit 10 fours and two sixes. Offspinner Trey Bidois [4–32] and medium pacer George Deans [3–56] were the best of the Red Star bowlers.
A third-wicket partnership of 69 runs between Wairarapa representatives Robbie Anderson [45 off 50 balls] and Nathan Elliott [39 off 32 balls] gave Red Star some hope, but when Anderson went at 104–3, and Elliott two runs later, the chances of earning first innings points dissipated.
A late lower-order charge saw Inspire Living Greytown snatch first innings points over Lansdowne at Greytown.
Chasing Lansdowne’s total of 108, Greytown needed some hard-hitting from their number eight Michael Courtman, who smashed an unbeaten 26 runs off 15 balls to see the home side past the target.
Earlier, Lansdowne struggled to build any significant partnerships after being sent into bat. A third-wicket stand of 41 between Gayan Dissanayake [29] and Shamal Perera [26] set a platform for a reasonable total, but the remaining batters could only muster another 32 runs, giving the home side 26 overs to chase down the below-par score.
A mini middle-order collapse of three wickets threatened to derail Greytown’s chase, but solid contributions by Alistair ‘Tora’ Boyne [17] and Ed Read [18] got the home side back on track before Courtman’s heroics won the day.
The main talking point, though, after both games, was whether the first innings limit of 55 overs should be reduced in weather-affected games. The teams batting first on Saturday had a distinct advantage, and it’s an aspect that Wairarapa Cricket are likely to address before the third round on Saturday.
Brief Scores
Barbarians 200–9 decl. [Quinn Childs 94, Caleb Burling 30; Trey Bidois 4–32, George Deans 3–56] drew with Red Star 139–8 [Robbie Anderson 45, Nathan Elliott 39; Childs 3–12, Sam Goodman 3–29].
Lansdowne 108 [Gayan Dissanayake 29, Shamal Perera 26; Michael Courtman 4–29, Byron Hegglin 4–29] lost on first innings to Greytown 121-8 [Courtman 26no, Hayden Ray 27; Cameron Sclanders 3–25].
Provisional Points
Barbarians 30, Greytown 28, Red Star 16, Lansdowne 11
