The Tigers put their best foot forward to kick off the 2023-24 campaign with a thorough seven-wicket thrashing of Northerners on Saturday afternoon at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.
Northerners never got out of first gear.
THE GAME
Central Park-St. Brendan’s 3-99 (T. Larkin 28*, J. McCarten 27) d Northerners 97 (A. Bollard 28, E. Baxter 3-39)
STAR PLAYER
Jack McCarten (CPSTB): With a low total to chase and limited time to impress with the bat, McCarten did just that while leaving a huge imprint on the defensive side in the first innings. Two catches behind, a run-out credit and a stumping equated to a stellar outing for the keeper.
Their top order was eliminated in less than 20 overs, slumping to 6-45.
Only Aiden Bollard’s 28 (five fours), batting in the number eight spot, provided the Tigers with any hassle on their way to a paltry 97 all out.
Ethan Baxter claimed three wickets, while spinner and recent GVL reserves premiership hero Ramadan Yze was brutally economical.
The chase was likely foregone, with the Tigers’ case aided further by 10 wides and a no-ball.
Jack McCarten, who had gotten busy behind the bails with a stumping and run-out credit to his name, was also active forward of the crease with a hasty 27 (four fours, one six) to hurry things along.
Captain Tyler Larkin, patient in the early going with all the time his side needed, put the game to bed with back-to-back boundaries off Declan Newbound to wrap up a straightforward win.
“It was a pretty good toss to win, not that I think it was a minefield, but there was a fair bit in the deck,” Larkin said.
“Ethan Baxter and ‘Rum’ (Yze) set the tone for the rest of the day, so I was really happy with how we carried it out the whole game.
“We were able to take consistent wickets, so really pleasing from our bowling perspective.”
Indeed, the wickets were consistent, but the contributors were varied for their part, with all six deployed bowlers picking up at least one.
“The bowlers were clear we needed to put everything in the right spot,” Larkin said.
“To do that in round one is great from a captain and coach’s perspective.”
The Tigers will take significant confidence from the annihilation they completed to begin the season, but won’t let the result impart on the challenges to come.
Mooroopna looms as an unknown quantity this weekend after its opening contest with Euroa was annulled.
“You can take a lot out of the first round, but in saying that, it’s a very long season and we’ll have stronger challenges,” Larkin said.
“Traditionally, we have pretty good tussles against (Mooroopna).”
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