Central Park St Brendan's Jack McCarten lines up a drive.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
Central Park-St Brendan’s wasted no time settling into its Haisman Shield campaign.
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The Tigers hosted Katandra at Deakin Reserve after a round one bye, and with the home XI opting to open with Jack McCarten and Jarrod Wakeling, the yellow and black launched into the 2026-27 season with gusto.
Eagles all-rounder Corey Hickford was quick to sharpen up their opponents, however, trapping Jack McCarten LBW for nine runs.
Dangerous CPStB number three Tyler Larkin strode to the crease but it wasn’t long before Katandra introduced the spin of Bailey Simpson in the 11th over, his first delivery rapping Jarrod Wakeling on the pads and seeing him dismissed for 14.
Larkin looked to build a partnership with skipper Rhiley Lau, but opposing captain Ben Pedretti continued to rotate his bowlers effectively, this time with Karl Rosevear handed the white Kookaburra.
Rosevear had Lau bowled in his first over and then Nate Yze caught in his second, reducing the Tigers to 4-65 after 20 overs, and needing a big stint from Sam Holland.
In tandem with Larkin, the pair strung together a 17-over partnership that yielded 83 runs and tipped the momentum back in CPStB’s favour, Larkin hoisting the bat for a half-century and Holland doing the same nearing the end of the innings.
When Larkin departed in the 37th over the Tigers had recovered to 5-149, and a valuable knock of 31 from Nate Earl eventually propelled CPStB to 6-206, pillaging 60 runs from the final 10 overs.
“The likes of Tyler (Larkin), Sam (Holland), and Nate (Earl), their running between the wickets was exceptional,” Tigers captain Rhiley Lau said.
“That was probably the difference, pinching ones and twos where we probably have shouldn’t.
“When Sam came in to bat, those guys put together a really good partnership which got us to a reasonable score.
“Tyler set up the innings for us which he usually does, but then for Sam to come in and do what he did with Nate was really good.”
Over to Katandra, Eagles openers Corey Hickford and Brady Black made a brisk start to the run chase, but in a blink both batters were sent packing by veteran Ramadan Yze, Hickford bowled and Black holing out for 16 off nine deliveries in the fourth over.
Ben Pedretti was industrious early but he too couldn’t capitalise on a fast start, Rory Duffy unsettling the Katandra captain’s stumps an over later before adding Bailey Simpson to the Eagles collapse.
Hadleigh Sirett mounted the Katandra fightback but he could only watch as Ben Clurey fell victim to spinner Jarrod Wakeling, reducing the Eagles to 5-66.
Sirett and Mitch Black staged a 42-run partnership before Larkin ended the former’s 47-run resistance, caught and bowled.
With the run rate on track but the wickets tumbling, Black and Rosevear (26) continued to nudge closer to the Tigres total, but eventually fell short by 24 runs, Duffy finishing with three wickets and Yze and Wakeling chipping in for two each.
“Overall it was good to get a win on the board first-up,” Lau said.
“Rum (Ramadan Yze) and Duffy (Rory Duffy) were quite good and struck early.
“Jarrod Wakeling did a good job tying up an end I thought, and then everyone else just chipped in here and there.”
CPStB faces up to Karramomus in round three, while Katandra will take a bye weekend to reassess.
THE GAME
CPStB 6-206 (Tyler Larkin 74, Sam Holland 55, Karl Rosevear 2-31) def. Katandra 9-182 (Hadleigh Sirett 47, Mitch Black 42, Rory Duffy 3-37)
STAR PLAYER
Tyler Larkin (CPStB): The powerful Tigers left-hander picked up where he left off from last season, crafting an important 74 runs and claiming the key wicket of Eagles’ top-scorer Sirett.
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