A brilliant all-round performance from opening batter Zavier Davidson and a cool-headed 10th-wicket stand has seen the Bloods topple the Tigers in the Haisman Shield for the first time since 2018.
Chasing 173 runs after Rhiley Lau (60 runs) and Nate Yze’s (50) fourth-wicket partnership of 85, the Karramomus run chase seemed on track on the back of Davidson’s composed 88 in tricky conditions.
A late flurry of wickets, spearheaded by veteran Ramadan Yze (3-34), left the Bloods teetering at nine down — with Zac Groombridge and Zane Newbound still needing 16 runs to seal the win.
The Tigers were unable to topple the final domino, with Groombridge’s 15 not out and a single run from Newbound firing the Bloods to a one-wicket win in the 43rd over.
“It was pretty tricky towards the end,” Bloods captain Nathan Jones said.
“The last 20 overs the wicket was pretty unpredictable one would say.
“Davo (Zavier Davidson) batted exceptionally well to get to 88 and then the two boys got us over the line which is really pleasing.
“Considering not a lot of blokes have had a chance to bat really this year, when it was their time, they took their moment.”
Davidson’s big day out included three wickets, combining with breakout spin star Dylan Hardy to put the clamps on a settled Tigers batting line-up.
Sent in to bowl first, pace spearhead Lachie Keady had Tigers openers Jack McCarten and Jarrod Wakeling walking back to the pavilion cheaply before Ethan Baxter’s dismissal of danger man Tyler Larkin had the home side sitting at 3-57.
Nate Yze timed his maiden Haisman Shield half-century well, raising the bat alongside skipper Lau to lift the Tigers into an imposing position.
But from a commanding 3-142, CPStB could only scrape together 31 more runs as the Bloods' bowlers tightened the screws.
Davidson broke through for Lau’s wicket rattled the stumps of Nate Earl and Ramadan Yze, and affected the run out of the set Nate Yze.
At the other end Hardy, who came into round three as the competition’s leading wicket-taker, roared through the tail to finish with figures of 3-24.
“They basically shut the game down,” Jones said.
“They probably bowled 17 overs between them and their last few overs were crucial.”
The home side ensured the run chase wouldn’t be cut and dry.
The next best Bloods score after Davidson’s 88 was Groombridge’s 15 as the Bloods battled to combat the Tigers’ bowlers, with the wickets shared between Ramadan Yze (3-34), Andi Riza (2-17) and Larkin (2-23).
Nevertheless, Karra’s late heroics delivered a third consecutive win, with a red ball clash against Katandra the next assignment for the Bloods and in-form batter Mitch McGrath set to return after missing the Tigers clash.
“We wanted to be three and zero; we thought we were a really good chance to get those three wins,” Jones said.
“We’ve ticked that box and now we’re heading into two-day cricket.
“(Katandra) got us last year just prior to finals. We’ve got to go out to their home deck, but (we’re) definitely going out there to see if we can secure a fourth win.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers will be out to bounce back in a mouth-watering showdown against reigning premier Kyabram at Deakin Reserve.
THE GAME
Karramomus 9-174 (Zavier Davidson 88, Zac Groombridge 15 not out, Ramadan Yze 3-34) d Central Park-St Brendan’s 173 (Rhiley Lau 60, Nate Yze 50, Dylan Hardy 3-24)
STAR PLAYER
Zavier Davidson (Karramomus): The left-handed opener just about did it all against the Tigers. A star hand with the bat with 88 off 119 deliveries followed a spell of 3-26 and a run-out.
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