Regan Fricker took 1-17 in Lansdowne’s win over Coasties last Saturday. The two teams will meet in Saturday’s Community T20 final. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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In what is a worrying trend in Wairarapa summer sport, just three teams will line up in Wairarapa’s premier club championship, the Bidwill Cup.
Cricket’s woes imitate regional one interclub tennis, which also attracted only three teams.
It begs the question whether Wairarapa Cricket should look at extending their involvement with Horowhenua-Kapiti, and Whanganui, to give their better-performed players more worthwhile competition.
The three districts have combined for the successful Coastal Challenge, a one-day competition played from October to February, but with Wairarapa and Whanganui, in particular, struggling for team numbers in their respective competitions, the time could be right to further enhance the connection among the three.
In the meantime, though, Wairarapa are stuck with a three-team competition for the remainder of the season.
Defending Bidwill Cup champions Burger King Red Star are joined by Jackson Street Bar Lansdowne, and Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown for the four-week competition featuring one full round-robin, and a two-day final.
Masterton Marist had played in the competition over the past two seasons, but a lack of quality senior players has meant the club’s top team will now contest the open grade Chairman’s Cup.
The Bidwill Cup round-robin matches will be played over 100 overs from noon-7pm, with a limit of 55 overs for the side batting first.
However, the team can declare any time and give the opposition their remaining overs left in the day. If the side batting first is all out, the side batting second get the overs remaining.
There are also bowling restrictions, with no bowler able to bowl more than 15 overs in an innings.
Points are awarded for a win, winning draw, losing draw, and bonus points in the first innings.
Seven points are given for a win. A winning draw is worth four points and is given where the team batting first have more runs than their opposition but have failed to bowl them all out.
Two points are awarded for a losing draw, when the team batting second is not all out, and have fewer runs than the opposition.
Batting bonus points are awarded for 125, 175, and 200 runs, while bowling bonus points are given for three, six, and nine wickets.
The first round will be a repeat of last year’s final between Red Star and Lansdowne on February 27 at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
Teams will also play for the Bidwill Challenge Cup, presently held by Red Star. Challengers must win outright to lift the trophy.
Wairarapa Cricket’s successful T20 competitions will wrap up on Saturday with the finals’ day at the Oval.
Lansdowne have been unbeaten in the Community Shield and will be favourites to take the trophy against Lone Star Coasties.
The two teams met in the final round last Saturday, with Lansdowne winning in the last over with one wicket to spare.
Featherston and Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown will meet in the second division Plumbing World Trophy final.
