At the very least concerns that Central Park-St Brendan’s might not have completed its transformation into a full-blooded offence in the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield can be put off for a bit.
The reason?
Who really cares about being a batting side right now when you can put your opponents in the sheds for 69 runs.
In holding Euroa to the second-lowest score seen in the A-grade competition this season, behind only the 63 Shepparton Youth Club United mustered at the hands of Kyabram, Central Park could hardly have looked more like Central Park.
That’s written in the best way possible.
The highest strike rate found in Euroa’s order was 40.9 and it belonged to Josh Robertson, who arrived in at six with things in disarray.
Robertson, whose signing with Violet Town was recently confirmed for the next Kyabram District League season, had much to do and few to do it with as the famed Tigers attack claimed victim after victim.
With Jarrod Wakeling leading the way in ever-reliable fashion, the assignment could not have been more simple when it was time to grab the bats.
Batting conditions proved difficult on both ends when Central Park Recreation Reserve last hosted a game with Deakin Reserve still unavailable, but the home side had no such burden on this occasion.
The multi-talented Cohen Paul could at least hold his head high after removing Rhiley Lau with the first ball of the innings and claiming the only other wicket in a long-foregone chase.
Mitchell Brett provided the first serious knock since he moved to Central Park from Northerners at a handy time, notching two thirds of the required tally off his own bat to accelerate his side towards one of the more pressure-free wins it’ll have all season.
Post-match, Tyler Larkin praised his bowling stocks after they proved themselves a class above once more.
THE GAME
Central Park-St Brendan’s 2-70 (Mitchell Brett 46*, Andrew Boyington 13*, Cohen Paul 2-25) d Euroa 69 (Nicholas Hill 22, Jarrod Wakeling 3-15, Ramadan Yze 2-6)
STAR PLAYER
Mitchell Brett (Central Park-St Brendan’s): Though it looked all but assured as the chase began, Brett’s breakthrough knock ensured victory would taste all the sweeter. An unbeaten run falling shy of a half-century only due to winning made it a lock.
“They’ve all come out and done their thing,” Larkin said.
“I say each week that they’re really good to have at our disposal. They keep fronting up and they did their job today, so it was good work by them.
“The pitch was brilliant. Our boys went out there and it was coming into the bat really nicely in a fast outfield, plus we’ve been fielding well too.
“It was good for Mitch and for us; we know what he can do and it was good to see him go out there and use the conditions.
“We’re loving having him at our club and it’s even better that he’s starting to pull some results for us.”
With newcomer Pine Lodge waiting in the wings as two-day cricket gets up and running, Larkin takes a similarly apprehensive approach as prior to this Euroa clash.
He remains unbothered by the chasm beginning to form between two distinctly contrasting portions of the table, instead insisting the two-day format will separate who’s really in the running.
“Until we start playing the red-ball stuff, you can’t really figure out the in-form team,” Larkin said.
“A lot of the top six have been winning the ones they should be, so to be 4-1 is a really good spot to be in, but the red-ball games will sort out a few teams.
“Looking at the scores, I think (Pine Lodge) is a pretty good bowling side and there hasn’t been a side to totally get away from them yet.
“Not many of us have played against those sides and they’ll win a few games, so we have to respect them and make sure we’re not the first.”
