Central Park spoils Kyabram’s party, nabs Clyde Young Shield

The Tigers met Kyabram and took the batting initiative, only to careen into early disaster with Andrew McMillan’s dismissal four balls into day one.

The Tigers had licence to take their time under the 100-over provisions across Cricket Shepparton’s two-day grand finals, but the dismissals of Rory Duffy and Max Hooper in consecutive overs set some alarm bells ringing.

Kyabram’s Connor McLeod picked up the good form he left the previous week with another decisive outing, collecting 3-31 over the day’s extended play.

Nobody took greater advantage of the extra wiggle room than Sam Holland, who faced a whopping 202 balls on his way to a top-scoring 43 (two fours) for Central Park.

McLeod would end proceedings 10 overs shy of stumps as the Redbacks came set to chase 166 for the flag — and there was no intention to race through it.

As the second day entered full swing, so did Duffy’s bowling as the 16-year-old, who enjoyed sprinklings of experience in the Haisman Shield this season, pulled a severe cloud of doubt over what looked like a pedestrian innings.

Removing captain Jason Parsons and Jayden Fitzgerald in the space of four balls, Duffy’s handiwork left Kyabram on the ropes at 4-56 once lunch was called.

The Redbacks’ fortunes failed to improve after stomachs were filled, with another four wickets dropping in the half-hour after lunch as Duffy continued to impose his indomitable will.

There was no McLeod magic to be found with willow in hand, but the Redbacks at least salvaged the respectability of triple figures via a spirited 21-run stand for the inevitable final wicket, which went down as Max Hooper’s fourth.

In the end, though, captain Jack Hooper was thrilled to knock over the minor premiers — and, in his words, the “benchmark side all season”.

“We knew Ky was a pretty strong side all round; they bat deep and we knew we'd have to bowl well, but we stuck to our processes,” Hooper said post-match.

“All year, the focus was on building dots and the wickets would come to us. We stuck to our guns and came out on top in the end.”

Duffy eventually scooped the Player of the Match award, notching 4-32 in a performance best summarised by the terror he inflicted on either side of lunch.

“Rory and Max (Hooper) were unreal,” Hooper said.

"Rory deserved to be best-on. He was phenomenal for us and turned the tide with those quick wickets in the middle.

“He's a great cricketer. He's only 16, so he's got a massive ceiling and he's shown that he's good enough to play at the top level.”

Hooper emphasised that the game did not feel over at lunch, but rather just after it as Duffy did his damage.

“When Brodie Lau got a run out (on Lukas Hanslow) to get them six down, I had an inkling that we'd be a big chance to win and they came through for us,” Hooper said.