The goal from the start was simple in Tyler Larkin’s mind: get through 80 overs, and this Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield encounter would likely fall his way.
These ambitions fell into immediate jeopardy when Ethan Baxter fell for a second-ball duck, only to see opening partner Andrew Cowen join him on the sidelines moments later for the same score.
In the face of early peril, Larkin himself would shoulder the load for a while, navigating his way to a patient 31 (four fours) amid a desperate need to steady the Central Park-St-Brendans ship.
Unfortunately for Larkin, the middle order would not co-operate in kind as Jesse Trower continued to have his way with the Tigers.
THE GAME
Central Park-St. Brendans 139 (Connor Holland 59, Tyler Larkin 31, Jesse Trower 5-60, Brayden Summerville 3-25) def by Waaia 231 (Mitch Cleeland 56, Jordan Cleeland 45, Rhiley Lau 5-46)
STAR PLAYER
Jesse Trower (Waaia): Others may be stiff given Trower only played week two, but his enormous impact with the ball in a high-stakes environment was enough to take the chocolates. A five-wicket demolition of CPSTB’s main offensive orchestrators snuffed out the contest.
Connor Holland arrived with his side six down for far too few and brought on a sustained resistance with more aggression than that of Larkin as the situation grew increasingly dire.
His defiant half-century provided the swashbuckling display that could have roared the Tigers into life with a few more wickets in hand.
Holland’s delightful stand (seven fours, one six) ended with the final wicket, though, as Waaia imposed its might on this clash of the titans.
The question then becomes, ‘Where do these sides go from here?’ and the answers could be very different between the two teams.
Waaia’s Mitch Cleeland will happily take where things stand for now.
“We started well and everything flowed on from there through hard work and perseverance,” Cleeland said.
“Everyone did the job that was asked, and it all came off; to go 10 points clear on top is a bonus.”
Of course, introducing Trower between days shall go down as a factor that turned the game unlike any other.
The situation could have been quite different by batting second, though.
“We were probably lucky the toss fell our way to be able to bat first before bringing Jesse in for week two,” Cleeland said.
“I think he bowled all 22 of his overs in a row, so it’s good to know you’ve got someone at one end who’s going to be reliable.
“Getting five wickets was a big plus for us.
“Central Park is notoriously deep in its batting lineup, so we were weary the whole time and we certainly didn’t rest once we had a couple of wickets early on.”
Celebration of a crucial victory - and maybe Mooroopna’s significant defeat - aside, Waaia’s work is hardly over.
“Everyone’s quite happy, albeit looking forward to the rest of the year,” Cleeland said.
“Knowing the hard work is only beginning; if you lose straight away in the finals, it’s all for nothing.
“(The mood is) optimistic, but also weary of knowing where we’re at and how much work we have in front of us.”