Nathan Elliott impressed with a half-century against Weraroa. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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The two Wairarapa teams in the Coastal Challenge returned from Levin on Saturday with mixed feelings from their washed-out games.
Joint leaders going into the round, Burger King Red Star were on target for a challenging total against winless Weraroa, when rain forced players from the field after 47 of their overs with the score at 242-5.
Standouts with the bat were Nathan Elliott and Stefan Hook, who both notched half-centuries. The pair also combined in a crucial 85-run fourth-wicket partnership, after Red Star were teetering at 54-3.
Elliott’s 65 underlined his potential and was a mixture of patience and aggression, and he always looked for the chance to punish bad bowling. The wicketkeeper-batsman faced 70 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes in his impressive innings.
Hook is quickly developing into a genuine all-rounder. Best known for his fast bowling deeds, Hook’s skilful 85, off 106 balls and featuring eight fours, was his second consecutive half-century, and he now has an average of 59 for the Coastal Challenge.
The rained out result against one of the strugglers is a big blow to Red Star, who slip to second in the competition, with Paraparaumu beating Kapiti Old Boys on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to take sole lead in the championship.
The two leading teams will meet on December 19 in a vital clash, which will have a huge bearing on Red Star’s prospects of making the semifinals in the combined Wairarapa, Whanganui, and Horowhenua-Kapiti championship.
United came home with two points from their game against Levin Old Boys when they appeared to be staring down the barrel of an embarrassing loss.
The hosts smashed an incredible 407-8 in their 50 overs, with Horowhenua-Kapiti opener Dion Sanders smashing 220 from 139 balls, featuring 17 fours and 14 sixes.
Fellow representative Matthew Good also brought up three figures, with his 106 coming from 66 balls, and including eight fours and six sixes. The pair added 181 for the third wicket in only 21 overs.
Veteran slow bowler Sanjay Patel was the most successful of the United bowlers, although his four wickets came at a cost of 76 runs.
The result maintains United’s share of fourth place in the championship, and well-placed to make the semifinals with three games to play.
POINTS TABLE
Paraparaumu 19; Burger King Red Star 17; Whanganui Marist, Levin Old Boys, United 12; Whanganui Collegiate 9; Whanganui United 6; Weraroa4; Kapiti Old Boys 2.
