With all three results still in play at the start of the final over, Tigers captain Brendan Scott stood up when it mattered most, delivering a magnificent final over to restrict the Eagles from hitting the seven runs needed to come away with the upset victory.
“It was a bit of a tight one at the end and those games are vital heading into finals, so to come out on top and hold our nerve at the end I thought was really good,” Central Park-St Brendan’s coach Tyler Larkin said.
“They needed seven to win and we had already used up ‘Ruma’ (Yze) who is normally our closing bowler, so Brendan (Scott) took it upon himself which was great leadership.
“There were a few hairy moments with a run out by Brendan himself and then they needed three off the last ball and there was a big sky catch which Aidan Lloyd held to secure the win, it was a really thrilling game and we are happy to have got over the line.”
Renowned for putting up mammoth totals on its home deck, it was unfamiliar territory for Central Park-St Brendan’s in the early stages as its usually dominant top order failed to fire a shot, leaving it in a spot of bother at 4-49.
With the class of Scott, Larkin, and Rhiley Lau back in the pavilion, it would be up to veteran Ramadan Yze to steer the Tigers out of trouble, putting the pressure back on the Katandra bowlers with a crucial 45 not out.
Partnered by Jarrod Wakeling (19) and Jack McCarten (16) in the lower order, Yze’s efforts would help lift the Tigers to a defendable total of 154, putting the onus on their bowling attack to get the job done.
Backing up his heroics with the bat, Yze quickly got to work with the ball, claiming the early scalp of opener Mitchell Black to turn the game in Central Park’s favour, with Wakeling also chipping in to have the Eagles struggling at 4-52.
But with Jedd Wright at the crease Katandra would have always felt in the game, as he continued on from his blistering century the previous week by striking a vital 43 to get the chase back on track.
With the game set to go down to the wire, Yze showed his class, dismissing Wright to give the Tigers back control, before handy lower order runs by Nathan Hickey (18), Joshua McKinnon (13) and Corey Hickford (25) had the Eagles on track for a successful chase.
However, Scott would have the final say with his third wicket of the day sealing the dramatic win.
Larkin said he was proud of how his team ground out the win, with Yze’s ability to wind back the clock being the difference between the two sides.
“He (Yze) has done it time and time again,” Larkin said.
“He got the wicket of Jedd Wright at a crucial point in the game, while also turning around our batting innings, so his performance was just outstanding yesterday and he is someone we can always totally rely on to get it done.”
THE GAME
Central Park-St Brendan’s 9-154 (Ramadan Yze 45 not out, Jarrod Wakeling 19, Ryleigh Shannon 3-26) d Katandra 9-151 (Jedd Wright 43, Corey Hickford 25, Brendan Scott 3-26)
STAR PLAYER
Ramadan Yze (Central Park-St Brendan’s): With his side in deep trouble, Yze proved why he is arguably the greatest player in Cricket Shepparton history with a performance for the ages to get Central Park-St Brendan’s over the line. Coming to the crease with his side floundering at 4-49, Yze took it upon himself to rebuild the innings, striking an unbeaten 45 to get the Tigers to a defendable total. He then made his presence felt with the ball, producing a clinical nine-over spell of 2-12, which included the big wicket of Jedd Wright.
