Onlookers at Katandra Recreation Reserve would have been stunned at the home side, which elected to bat first, being thoroughly curtailed by the Central Park-St Brendan’s attack en route to a meek 138 all out with three balls left in the innings.
Looking nothing like the side that had taken the Haisman Shield by storm across the opening month, the Eagles will head into the bye needing a big lift after the Tigers cruised through the run chase to a seven-wicket triumph.
Central Park-St Brendan’s captain Jarrod Wakeling was dominant when needed through the second half of the order, taking the especially pesky wicket of Ben Pedretti before cleaning up the tail end and finishing up with 4-28.
THE GAME
Central Park-St Brendan’s 3-139 (E. Baxter 55*, J. McCarten 36, H. Sirett 1-22) d Katandra 138 (H. Sirett 38, J. Wakeling 4-28, E. Baxter 2-23)
STAR PLAYER
Jarrod Wakeling (Central Park-St Brendan’s): It wasn’t a big day on offence and Wakeling was a vital reason why, tearing through what heart remained of a formidable order and setting his side up for a comfortable chase. Baxter could be considered stiff after contributing well on both ends.
It speaks volumes about Katandra’s lack of firepower that its 26-run stand for the final wicket was the most prolific of the innings.
The Eagles may have felt a sniff of miraculously keeping the Tigers under wraps to maintain its unbeaten run after the early dismissal of Andrew Cowen.
Ethan Baxter would promptly plug in and cause those hopes to vanish with a well-taken 55 not out (five fours) to steer the Tigers home at a leisurely pace.
“(Katandra is) probably considered the best team in the competition at the minute,” Central Park-St Brendan’s coach Tyler Larkin said.
“We set ourselves the task to go out there and prove that we’re still up there as well.
“To knock them off on their home ground, I couldn’t be happier.”
The bowlers were undoubtedly the stars of this show, and Larkin has total faith in the depth and variety of his stocks.
“We’re in a pretty fortunate position in that we have a lot of bowlers who can be called upon to do a job,” Larkin said.
“We’re very confident internally with that group, and we’ve been executing well all season.
“As the season goes on into the two-dayers, though, there’ll be more challenges, and it’ll be harder to stay on top.
“It’s going to test everyone but Shepp United, Waaia and Nagambie have improved a lot this season so the top seven or eight teams are all very close.”
Indeed, the two-day matches starting next weekend will provide a new challenge to many who were absent the last time Cricket Shepparton utilised the format.
An avid enjoyer of the system, Larkin laments its declining presence in recent years.
“It’ll be a challenge for everyone because we haven’t played it in three or four years,” Larkin said.
“Our club’s extremely excited to get back into it.
“I think it’s a dying format, unfortunately, but hopefully it continues in this league.”
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