The Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield clash between Old Students and Central Park-St Brendan’s is a contest, one way or another.
Saturday’s action at Kialla Park Reserve was tracking as expected in the early going, with only the stubborn opening batting of Sam O’Brien providing any lasting resistance.
Some Jarrod Wakeling wizardry put paid to those efforts and more, as the stalwart put his foot down and left the Old Students line-up in ruins.
His excellent five-for had the home side dismissed inside 50 overs for a mere 68, with only skipper Callan McCabe and Liam Callegari reaching double figures.
THE GAME
Old Students 68 (Callan McCabe 13, Jarrod Wakeling 5-28, Ethan Baxter 2-18) and 0-13 (Noah Muir 9*, Sam O’Brien 4*) leads Central Park-St Brendan’s 3-76d (Tyler Larkin 31*, Jack McCarten 17*, Jake Sutherland 1-14)
What soon followed was a rare sight.
The Tigers appeared determined to keep the game competitive, though the losses of both openers inside 19 balls gave the Students a shout in their own right.
Wakeling and Tyler Larkin soon went on their way, though, steering the ship back on course and threatening to waltz away with a chance for the early outright on day two.
Wakeling, taking the unusual step of retiring not out on 14, gave the first indication that things would not proceed as expected.
Only 19 overs into the innings the Tigers stunningly opted to declare at 3-76 with Larkin and keeper Jack McCarten in the middle, leading by eight runs.
Handing Old Students the day’s final five overs to make some headway, Noah Muir and Sam O’Brien saw their side through to stumps with an aggregate lead of five runs.
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Rally: Old Students' Callan McCabe and Mohammad Shahid cross the wickets. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 10
Off the mark: Old Students' Callan McCabe gets down the pitch. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 10
Tough spot: Old Students' Callan McCabe takes the crease. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 10
Seeking momentum: Old Students' Mohammad Shahid. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 10
Rolling it over: CPSTB's Dwain Vidler tries to inflict more damage. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 10
In control: CPSTB keeper Jack McCarten offloads the ball. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 10
Fire up: CPSTB keeper Jack McCarten celebrates the fall of a wicket. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 10
Handy output: CPSTB's Ethan Baxter continues to achieve under the radar. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 10
Where to from here: Old Students' Felix Odell and Callan McCabe contemplate what's to come. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 10 of 10
A lot going on: CPSTB's Keiran Hogeboom takes a breather. Photo by Rechelle ZammitBizarre though the decision may be the Tigers would doubtless remain in the ascendancy.
However, after Old Students finally notched their first success of the campaign last week against Euroa, could this call hand the strugglers a lifeline?