Potential finalists Mitre 10 Lansdowne and Greytown came up trumps when matches in Cricket Wairarapa's Bidwill Cup competition resumed on Saturday.
Lansdowne batted first against Red Star at Queen Elizabeth Park oval and at 29-3 were in early trouble.
However, a 82-run fourth-wicket partnership between Wairarapa representatives Brock Price and Alex Treseder steadied the ship and they eventually got through to a competitive 187.
Price continued his good form by making 43 from 86 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Treseder played some flowing shots in making 62 from 72 balls, including nine fours and one six.
Bowling for Red Star Jared Watt was rewarded for his consistent line and length in taking 3-39 from 16 overs while Dean van Deventer took 2-28 , also from 16 overs, and Peter Sigvertsen 3-54 from 15 overs.
Red Star had 46 overs to overhaul the Lansdowne total and were 171-7 when stumps were drawn. The highlight of their batting effort was clearly the performance of van Deventer, who always looked comfortable in making 62 from 81 balls, including five fours and three sixes. Once again it was skipper Stefan Hook-Sporry who led the Lansdowne attack, finishing with 5-79 from 16 overs.
Elsewhere, an outstanding all-round performance by Daniel Ingham played a big part in Greytown's decisive win over Wairarapa College. Greytown made 230-9 when they batted for their full 60 overs, Ingham finishing unbeaten on 84. He faced 86 balls and struck nine fours and one six. Paul Lyttle's 30 came from 42 balls and he hit one six. Brad Griffith had a heavy workload at the bowling crease for Wairarapa College, taking 2-98 from 23 overs, while Frank Dickson finished with 3-25 from nine overs.
Wairarapa College had just 40 overs to bat and were 118-4 when play ended. Opener Hugo Wakeling showed commendable patience in making an unbeaten 49 from 124 balls. Ingham claimed only one wicket but ensured the run rate was well below what was required by conceding just 18 runs from his 12 overs. Brian James took 2-34 from seven overs.