Flight Centre Lansdowne batsman Matthew Stringfellow provided the highlight of Bidwell Cup senior men's interclub cricket on Saturday, scoring a splendid 144 in his team's first innings against Turkey Red Greytown at Rathkeale College.
Stringfellow, a regular member of the Wairarapa Hawke and Chapple Cup sides over the past coupleof seasons, has not long returned from minor league cricket in England, and he displayed a full range of shots as he led his side to a healthy 340. Giving him solid support was James Adamson, who got into the 60s.
The first day's play ended with Greytown having reached 80 for the loss of four wickets with another member of the Wairarapa rep. squad in Mark Childs showing a welcome return to form in making a half-century.
It was the ball rather than the bat that dominated in the other Bidwell Cup fixture at Rathkeale College between Red Star and Rathkeale. Batting first Red Star were in deep strife at 65-8 but made a minor recovery to be all out for 116. Peter Sigvertsen top-scored with 23 while Aaron Wilson made 21 and Greg Todd 20.
The Rathkeale first innings followed a similar trend. They were 65-9 but with tailender Geage Deans batting sensibly for 39 not out got through to 105.
Todd took three of the wickets to fall and Sigvertson and Wilson both took two. Red Star then commenced their second innings and were 60-2 at stumps, Daniel Stonely top-scoring with 30.
Meanwhile, Adam Stephens scored 112 for Marist Old Boys in their open grade fixture with Chanel College first X1 at the Park Sportsground.
Marist Old Boys batted first and after a shaky start Stephens and Gareth Waldron put on 60 runs for the second wicket and Colin Jones and Stephens cracked 170 runs in an entertaining third-wicket stand. Stephens retired soon after scoring his century and Jones was 65 not out as Marist Old Boys reached 262-2.
Chanel College never looked like reaching their target and were all out for 110. Jeremy Sargent and Marcus Howie were the pick of the Old Boys attack, each taking three wickets, while captain Liam Price top-scored for Chanel with 27.
