Red Star captain Jeremy Anderson top scored with 35. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Burger King Red Star’s slim hopes of making the Coastal Challenge one-day championship semifinals are gone after a 77-run loss to Kapiti Old Boys at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval on Saturday.
Going into the game, Red Star needed a more concerted effort than shown in crashing to embarrassing losses in their previous two matches against Levin Old Boys and Paraparaumu – bowled out for less than 100 runs both times.
Although the final margin was comprehensive, a makeshift Red Star, missing several key players because of covid-19 and injuries, adopted a more determined and disciplined approach, but in the end, a lack of quality batters told.
With the prospect of rain [which never eventuated], Red Star captain Jeremy Anderson won the toss and decided to field.
The home side had Kapiti in trouble at 74-4 until a fortuitous 81-run fifth-wicket stand between Ryan Hickey and Martin Harrison swung the game the visitors’ way.
Hickey [56] and Harrison [45] rode their luck with numerous shots just clearing or falling short of fielders, and each was dropped more than once.
The best bowlers were medium-pacer Patrick Wootton [2-28], and left-arm seamer Angus Jaspers [2-22], their consistent line and length troubling Kapiti’s batters on a pitch with
variable pace and bounce.
The total of 192 was always going to be a challenge for the below strength Red Star batting line-up, especially against Kapiti’s Horowhenua-Kapiti representative opening attack of Carter Andrews and Zack Benton.
Red Star lost their first wicket in the first over and never recovered, losing regular wickets to be dismissed for 115.
Andrews and Benton got three wickets each, as did off-spinner Harrison, who bowled superbly into a large bare patch at the southern end.
Anderson, with 35, and wicketkeeper Jack Wylie, with 22, were the best of the home team’s batters in an improved but still disappointing batting effort.
The one positive for Red Star was the promise shown by young bowlers Wootton, Jaspers, and James Church, who all troubled the experienced Kapiti batters.
The loss leaves Red Star stranded in seventh place in the eight-team competition, with no chance of making the top four. They complete their season at home to Whanganui United on Saturday.
Wairarapa’s second team United are eighth after defaulting their game against Whanganui Marist because players were unwilling to travel.
Brief scores
Kapiti Old Boys 192 [Ryan Hickey 56, Martin Harrison 45; George Deans 3-35, Patrick Wootton 2-28, Angus Jaspers 2-22, Ojas Patel 2-46] beat Burger King Red Star 115 [Jeremy Anderson 35; Carter Andrews 3-21, Zack Benton 3-30, Harrison 3-10] by 77 runs
