Trey Bidois saved the day for Burger King Red Star, hitting a superb century as they locked in a Coastal Challenge semifinal with a hard-fought six-run victory in a rain-affected clash with Weraroa.
As has been the case in recent games, Bidois has often played a loan hand, but none so significant as Saturday’s effort at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
The number three strode out to the middle with the score at 14-1 and watched on as his teammates too often threw their wickets away while maintaining his composure and putting away the bad ball.
When he was the last batter out for 102, which came off 117 balls and featured 14 fours, Bidois had led his team to a defendable total of 200, after one stage falling to 48–5 and in danger of failing to reach three figures. He has now scored 236 runs at an average of 59 in his four Coastal Challenge games.
The next best with the bat was Jack Wakeling, with 20, who combined with Bidois in putting on 67 for the sixth wicket.
While captain Jeremy Anderson was rapt with Bidois’ effort, he was disappointed with the rest of the batting.
“He batted brilliantly, and he’s batted well all season and has scored a lot of runs across all formats, and it was really pleasing to see him get a hundred; it meant a hell of a lot to him,” Anderson said.
“He’s carried us the last couple of weeks. It was a really good innings, and it really saved us.
“To be fair, there were no excuses this week; nearly every one got themselves, so obviously, that’s something we have to work on if we want to progress any further through the semis.”
Rain during the innings break resulted in a loss of one hour and a recalculation with a new target of 166 off 35 overs.
Red Star picked up regular wickets to have Weraroa eight wickets down and needing 13 off the last over but with the dangerous Artha Liyanage undefeated on 59.
A wide and two dot balls from Ethan Childs meant Liyanage had to go for the big shot, and he was out caught on the boundary by Pete Sigvertsen. That left a tall order for the tailenders, and Red Star held on for a deserved victory.
Anderson was pleased with the bowling effort and felt that the twin spin attack of Quinn Childs and Bidois, who bowled seven overs each on the trot and gave up 18 and 19 runs, respectively, in the middle overs, was the key to restricting Weraroa.
The win secured Red Star’s place in the semifinals and in a three-way tie in the lead with one round to play on Saturday.
BRIEF SCORES
Red Star 200 [Trey Bidois 44; Huka Kahu 5–33] beat Weraroa 159–9 [Prabodha Arthavidu Ellawala Liyanage 59, Jamie Marshall 28; Pete Sigvertsen 2-40, Ethan Childs 2-27, Quinn Childs 2–19] by nine runs on DSL.
PROVISIONAL POINTS
Whanganui United, Red Star, Whanganui Marist 15; Kapiti Old Boys 13; Levin Old Boys 7; Weraroa, Paraparaumu 6.
