Wairarapa were under the pump at the end of the first day's play in their Hawke Cup qualifying round match with Manawatu at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, on Saturday.
Batting first, Wairarapa were all out for 196, a disappointing return considering they were just one down 20 minutes fromlunch and then lost four key wickets before the break, including those of in-form batsmen Harry Clinton-Baker and Sam Curtis.
Joe Hull top scored with 46 and other useful contributions came from Ben Foster (31 not out) and Henry Cameron (27). Opener Sean Jarvis also showed commendable grit in making 15 off 96 balls.
Manawatu had guaranteed first innings points by stumps, having reached 198-2 in 44 overs. Josh Mann was clearly the pick of the Wairarapa attack. He and Jarred Watt had one wicket apiece.
On the local club scene Red Star, Lansdowne and Greytown all completed the expected outright wins when matches in the Bidwell Cup senior competition continued but there were some nervous times for Red Star and Greytown in particular.
Needing just 26 runs in their second innings to take maximum points off Wairarapa College, Red Star lost their first two wickets without a run being scored and crashed to 8-5 before sanity prevailed. They won by five wickets.
Greytown required 80 runs in their second innings for their outright win over Kuranui Old Boys and got home with only one wicket to spare while Lansdowne were relatively comfortable winners over Marist Old Boys, who have had the misfortune to lose their star performer Robbie Speers through injury.
