The Tigers have secured the second spot in the Haisman Shield one-day grand final after routing Numurkah at Numurkah Showgrounds on Saturday.
It was the final home-and-away one-day fixture for the season in the Haisman Shield and both sides knew what was on offer: win and you’re in the grand final.
As a blazing sun singed the pitch, the Central Park-St Brendan’s top six scorched Numurkah after winning the toss and electing to bat in round 11.
Opening batters Rhiley Lau (27 runs off 44 balls) and Andrew Boyington (42 off 92) gave the Tigers a strong base to work their innings off.
The Central Park-St Brendan’s middle-order then got to work and applied the heat to Numurkah’s bowlers.
Connor Hayes continued his brilliant 2024-25 season — now sits second in the league’s top run-scorers — as he scored a blistering 63* off 46 deliveries.
The gun batter’s innings included five boundaries and a six.
Jack McCarten joined in for some late-innings blasting as the Tigers' number six finished the 45 overs unbeaten on 52 runs off 42 balls (four boundaries and one six).
The two sides headed into the sheds for a change of innings and a much-needed break from the baking heat, with Numurkah needing 234 runs from its innings to book a place in the grand final.
Requiring a strong start to chase down the Tigers’ tall tally, the Blues couldn’t find their rhythm across the opening 17.2 overs as they sat on 4-56.
In-form batter Ben Beaumont did his best for the hosts, scoring 50 runs off 67 balls, but he quickly departed after raising the bat.
Numurkah wickets continued to tumble consistently from there as the Central Park-St Brendan’s bowlers remained on top throughout the innings.
Veteran Tigers Jarrod Wakeling (3-37 off nine overs) Ramadan Yze (2-31 off five) and skipper Tyler Larkin (2-15 off six) did the damage for the visitors.
The Blues were eventually bowled out for 129, handing the Tigers a 104-run win and a ticket to the grand final to take on an undefeated Nagambie.
THE GAME
Numurkah 129 (Ben Beaumont 50, Dylan Grandell 20, Jarrod Wakeling 3-37) lt Central Park-St Brendan’s 4-233 (Connor Hayes 63*, Jack McCarten 52*, Ben Beaumont 2-25)
STAR PLAYER
Connor Hayes (Central Park-St Brendan’s): The Tigers’ master-blaster continued his scintillating form as he punished the Blues’ bowlers late. Smoking 63 not out off 46 deliveries Hayes moved to second on the league run-scorers tally with 438 at an average of 73. Will arguably be the Tigers’ most important player in the one-day grand final next Sunday.
Next weekend’s grand final is set to be a thriller between the Lakers and the Tigers at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.
Opposition sides have struggled to make tall totals at Nagambie’s home ground this season on the Lakers’ usually bowler-friendly wicket.
The highest score by an opposition side at Nagambie Recreation Reserve this summer was by Central Park-St Brendan’s when the Tigers were bowled out for 135 in round two.
However, both teams possess a deep batting roster with the likes of the Nolan brothers for Nagambie and Larkin and Hayes for Central Park-St Brendan’s posing the biggest threats.
The one-day grand final is scheduled to start at 11am on Sunday, February 9.
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