The reigning grand finalist was at its brutal best with ball in hand, restricting the star-studded Tigers to a season-low 110 courtesy of a break-out four-wicket performance by Connor Brown.
This came after he helped lift the Bombers to a competitive total of 159, smashing a quick-fire 31 in what turned out to be a crucial late-innings cameo.
“Connor was incredible for us all day,” Waaia captain Brayden Carey said of the all-rounder’s performance.
“After he got us to 160 with some crucial lower-order runs with the bat, he then came into the attack and took the key wickets of Connor Holland and Tyler Larkin within the space of six or seven balls to really turn the game.
“It is players like (Connor) and not always your out and out stars that get you over the line, we have guys like Liam Evans and Mitch Cleeland that are stars of the competition and I feel we can now add Connor Brown to that list.”
Evans got Waaia off to the perfect start with a crucial 42 at the top of the order.
Setting a great platform alongside fellow opener Brenton Low (18), the ladder-leading Tigers would slowly work themselves into the contest thanks to a Jarrod Wakeling spin bowling masterclass that yielded figures of 4-37.
In need of a late-innings boost, Brown would be the one to deliver, sending the ball to all parts to lift the Bombers to more than 150.
Coming up against a side fresh off posting 300 against Tatura the previous week, the Bombers’ bowlers knew it would take something special to keep the Tigers below 160.
The ever-reliable Cleeland got the ball rolling for Waaia, removing the in-form Brendan Scott for a third-ball duck.
But it didn’t take long for Central Park to wrestle back momentum, as coach Larkin joined Holland at the crease and put on a quick-fire 42-run stand.
Enter Brown.
With the Bombers in danger of being blown away, he struck almost immediately, firstly removing Holland before taking the prized scalp of Larkin.
With both set batters back in the sheds, Waaia went in for the kill, as the Tigers lost 7-39 in a stunning collapse.
Cleeland returned to the attack with great success late to finish the job, claiming two more wickets to finish with 3-29 and finish the Central Park innings on 110.
In what was Waaia’s first match of 2022 after its round nine clash with Old Students was postponed, Carey said he was proud of how his side approached the contest.
“It was a great win, we hadn’t played too many matches in the last little while and weren’t sure how rusty we would be, so to play so well straight away it is a great testament to the group,” Carey said.
“This is a win that gives us extreme confidence moving forward, when you’re playing in a one-day tournament it is all about momentum and after a bit of an ugly start to the year I feel things are really starting to click.”
THE GAME
Waaia 159 (Liam Evans 42, Connor Brown 31, Jarrod Wakeling 4-37) d Central Park-St Brendan’s 110 (Tyler Larkin 23, Connor Brown 4-18, Mitch Cleeland 3-29)
STAR PLAYER
Connor Brown (Waaia): When it comes to all-round performances you will struggle to find any more important than what Brown produced at the weekend. Standing up when his side needed him most, his 31 with the bat gave the Bombers the competitive total they needed to put pressure on the Tigers’ batters. With ball in hand he then proceeded to take the key wickets of Connor Holland and Tyler Larkin that brought about Central Park’s stunning middle-order collapse.
