Playing an hour ahead of everyone else in round two of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield, Central Park-St Brendan’s headed down south to Nagambie with both sides having made winning starts a week prior.
Mitch Winter-Irving made the ideal start as far as the home side goes, removing opener Jack McCarten for a second-ball duck, but his counterpart in Rhiley Lau had other ideas.
In at three, skipper Tyler Larkin ran alongside Lau in a partnership that very much appeared to steady the visiting Tigers.
The 48-run stand before Larkin fell to William O’Brien for 20 looked to rescue things - but Brayden Biggs, it’s more than safe to say, had other plans.
The newly re-trained off-spinner slotted in and wasted no time wreaking havoc on the Nagambie pitch, claiming the vital scalp of returning Tiger Connor Hayes for his side’s second two-ball duck of the innings.
Knocking over Lau just after he reached the half-century mark set a full-scale collapse in motion, with Biggs walking away carrying four wickets as Central Park languished at 8-85 in his wake.
To the visitors’ rescue once more came Brendan Scott and Dwain Vidler, no doubt arriving with the goal of just moving along to a triple-figure tally as had looked in such peril.
The two valiantly dug in and went beyond the call of duty, putting on nearly 50 more in a transformative bottom-order fightback before the dust settled on a victory target of 136 for the Lakers.
With all the time in the world, Nagambie simply had to peter along through its chase, and it seldom felt like going at any other pace.
In truth, it didn’t need to despite a pair of early poles in the pocket of Jarrod Wakeling to try and force the issue.
Nagambie captain Mark Nolan provided the greatest share with 24 as part of a 40-run canter for the eventual third wicket as matters proceeded at a comfortable pace.
The Lakers did just enough of a job to secure the points, Biggs deservedly knocking in the walk-off run himself to secure a three-wicket win.
THE GAME
Nagambie 7-136 (Mark Nolan 24, Max Hooper 2-20, Jarrod Wakeling 2-37) defeated Central Park-St Brendans 135 (Rhiley Lau 50, Dwain Vidler 21, Brayden Biggs 4-23)
STAR PLAYER
Brayden Biggs (Nagambie): Did about everything possible to contribute towards a vital win for the Lakers, ripping through portions of the batting lineup in short order and sticking around for an unbeaten 25-run stand to knock in the winning runs.
Mark Nolan took nothing for granted in his side’s difficult opening fortnight, but feels good in the aftermath.
“We’ve come up against real quality opponents in the first two weeks, and thought we’d be happy to split those games,” Nolan said.
“To get those two wins against teams that will be playing finals will hopefully put us in a good spot.
“Rhiley is a very good bat and their top five is nearly the best in the comp, but when we brought Brayden on as an off-spinner, he probably turned the game in our favour with those three quick wickets.
“At that 20-over mark, we were staring down a total of 180 or 200.”
Nothing is guaranteed, but with Old Students awaiting in round three, Nolan’s men will fancy themselves to go on with the job - especially if their converted turner delivers these kinds of goods again.
“Brayden’s always bowled medium or pacers his whole career but he works on off-spin during practice,” Nolan said.
“He’s turned both games back for us and he might be a bit of a weapon, especially on our wicket getting them to shoot through a bit low.
“Old Students are a quality team with a few match-winners, but if we can bring the cricket we’ve played the first two weeks and get to 3-0 before our bye, it builds a bit of pressure on selection.
“We have a deep squad this year, which we haven’t had in the past.”
Now pegged back at 1-1, Central Park will look to rebound against winless grand finalists Mooroopna next weekend.
