Tiger ton and monster partnership secures a one day win in 2026 for Central Park-St Brendan’s

At the lightning fast outfield of Tatura’s Frank Howley Oval, Central Park-St Brendan’s took full advantage, winning the toss and electing to bat.

Rhiley Lau picked up where he left off after top scoring for the Tigers in the one day final, with a patient start soon turning into strong aerial shots around the ground.

Lau stunned Blake Armstrong in the 11th over with back-to-back sixes, but was caught an over later, departing for 38.

Fellow opener Jack McCarten endured a solid stint at the crease too, before he lost his wicket for 32, but his walk to the sheds would bring out Connor Hayes to the middle with Tyler Larkin on seven - a pairing set to give Tatura a persistent headache.

Larkin embraced the batting-friendly conditions, quickly assuming a strike rate above 100, while Hayes knocked the Kookaburra defensively to begin his innings, dispatching a loose ball when available, as three of his opening four scoring shots went to the rope, in between a chunk of dot balls.

An undisciplined bowling display didn’t help Tatura’s case either, with 20 sundries tallied for the game, including seven wides and six no balls.

As the innings continued, Larkin’s confidence with the willow maintained an upwards trajectory, and as a maiden triple-figure total for the season neared, the Tigers coach didn’t shy away.

Three sixes came between Larkin’s half-century and the nervous nineties - albeit the coach’s calmness and composure as he neared the ton suggested no nerves were in his mind at all.

Larkin only faced three dot balls in the nineties, coolly rotating the strike, and even striking a boundary to get to 96.

A shot deep into the outfield gave enough time for the Tigers weapon to scuttle back for two in the 43rd over, reaching the triple-figure mark for the first time this season, off just 88 deliveries.

Tatura paceman Jess Petherick would take the Larkin scalp the very next ball, but the Tigers’ leader’s job was complete after forming a 185-run partnership, and with Connor Hayes recording 82 not out by the inning’s completion, Central Park-St Brendan’s total of 3-274 was a formidable sight for the red, white and blue to chase.

While Tatura was able to amend a horror start in round seven, no such feat would occur against the Tigers.

Lachlan Magee, Joshua Macansh, Kiran Green and Daniel Coombs were all rolled by Dwain Vidler or Ramadan Yze for single digits, leaving the home side reeling at 4-15.

However, Tatura’s deep batting line-up proved itself once again, and while it failed to reach the target set, the loss came in respectable fashion as middle order batters, skipper Jayden Armstrong (68 runs) and Joshua Catalano (79), produced an 89-run partnership of resistance.

Ultimately though, the yellow and black’s total was too hard a task, with Tatura falling short by 44 runs.

Coach Larkin was quick to brush off his individual feat, marking the “double points” win as a significant stepping stone towards a high ladder position at season’s end.

“It was a really good win, we viewed it as a double points at play for us, so it was an important one,” Larkin said.

“We batted really well, it wasn’t an easy wicket to begin with, but the longer we could stay out there the better it would get for us, and that’s what happened.”

The Tigers continue to hold its place in second on the Haisman Shield table, while Tatura has slid to sixth from fourth, half a game ahead of reigning premiers Waaia.

Central Park will look to continue its winning ways in round nine against Mooroopna, while Tatura can bounce back and maintain its top six spot if it defeats Old Students over the next fortnight.

“There are no easy games, even if teams we play are below us they’ll be trying to makes finals, so we’ll treat each as important as the last,” Larkin said.