Lansdowne through to final as Red Star fall short

Flight Centre Lansdowne have won through to the final of the Wairarapa Cricket Association's More FM Cup Twenty20 competition when they defeated Red Star in their semi-final match played at the Park Sportsground on Saturday.

With short boundaries in play Lansdowne would have only been mildly happy with their total of 154 when they batted first. Robbie Spiers was typically inventive in getting through to 35 while Matt Stringfellow made a valuable 29.

The pick of the Red Star bowlers was Greg Todd whose four overs cost just 18 runs and he took one wicket.

Red Star looked well on the way to victory when they reached 80-1 but a middle and lower order batting collapse ended their chances and they were all out for 140. Chris Wendon top scored with 28 and Greg Todd made 20.

Leighton Calkin did most of the damage for Lansdowne in taking 4-20 and there was an impressive opening four overs from youngster Mark Goodin.

Marist Old Boys won the Chairman's Cup open grade limited-overs final, beating Greytown by 33 runs at the park oval.

Greytown won the toss and asked Marist Old Boys to bat. They benefited early from a useful partnership between Elliott Bird and Colin Jones and when Bird was dismissed for 18 Jason Paku came to the crease and he and Jones put on 49 runs for the fourth wicket before Paku was out for 29.

Jones made 21 and with Tim Bird contributing 20 and tailender Ben Harlow a valuable 15 Marist Old Boys reached 161. Leading the Greytown attack was Michael Tosswill who finished with 2-23.

Greytown's innings never really got going and they were all out for 127. Ryan Hardman top scored with 23 not out. Bowling for Marist Old Boys, Greg Pullman took 4-19 and Jason Paku 2-18.