The class of Central Park-St Brendan’s coach Tyler Larkin proved too much for Nagambie on Saturday, with his unbeaten 107 lifting the undefeated Tigers to a thumping 79-run win at Deakin Reserve.
Slumping to their second straight defeat to begin the 2022-23 campaign, a sluggish start in the field cost the Lakers dearly, as Larkin and Jarrod Wakeling (77) combined to see Central Park-St Brendan’s to an imposing first innings total of 4-255.
While Nagambie did show promising signs in its run chase, the task was too great, as it managed just 9-176 from its 45 overs.
Speaking after the loss, Lakers captain Mark Nolan said his team was simply outclassed
“We were pretty disappointed with the result. At the end of the day we were just beaten by a better team. There is a bit of a gap between where we are at and where they are at right now,” Nolan said.
“We didn’t bowl particularly well, but it was a perfect wicket and lightning fast outfield, so they took advantage of that early and really got away from us with the bat.
“Overall we were just poor with the ball and that ended up costing us.”
After missing out on last week’s game against Katandra due to wet weather, Nagambie was keen to make a statement against competition pacesetter Central Park-St Brendan’s in the early stages.
But with the conditions very conducive to batting, the Tigers took full advantage, with wayward opening spells by Nolan and Brayden Biggs allowing Wakeling and Larkin to get away.
“We were on the back foot from about five overs in and with Tyler probably being the best batter in the competition, he made us pay,” Nolan said.
“When he got going he was very hard to stop and we just couldn’t get him out. He was just a class above on the day.”
Coughing up a whopping 255, Nagambie got its opportunity to bat on the beautiful deck and started well with young gun Jono Moore (41) and Dale Short (39) showing great intent at the top of the order.
But unfortunately the Lakers could not maintain that momentum, as they collapsed from 1-93 to 8-161 to fall well short of the Central Park total.
“Jono batted really well at the start and got us off to a bit of a flyer, so to see him find some form was pleasing,” Nolan said.
“But then we just hit a bit of a flat spot for about five or six overs which really put us on the back foot with the run rate.
“We probably could have just batted properly at the end and get 200 or 220, but we tried to still win it right until the end, which is why we ended up with what we got.
“There were still plenty of positives to take away with the bat after really struggling the week before, so we will hope to continue that momentum.”
Finding themselves on the back foot with two losses and a draw to start their campaign, Nolan said it is pivotal the Lakers bounced back against an in-form Numurkah side this week.
“It was a very disappointing loss in round one and then going to Central Park was always going to be challenge, but we have a few winnable games coming up leading into Christmas,” he said.
“So hopefully we can take a scalp this weekend against Numurkah and then build some momentum to put ourselves in a position on the ladder where we are still a chance to make finals.”