Dwain’s the rock as Tigers scrape through in Haisman Shield classic

Central Park had 160 to chase for victory, while Numurkah had plenty to prove after letting the Tigers off the hook less than 48 hours earlier in a dramatic T20 final.

No Keiran Hogeboom due to a fielding collision in that T20 clash meant alternatives at the top, though; the visitors did not benefit from a comfortable start.

The Blues were making statement after statement for much of the afternoon at the expense of Central Park’s runners, routinely cut down between the wickets amid a massive haul of four run outs on the day.

Ramadan Yze cracked on after receiving best-on-ground recognition in Thursday night’s thrilling win, notching five boundaries on his way to a team-high 37.

It looked grim elsewhere, though, and when Rory Duffy was caught short of the crease by Mitch Grandell, Numurkah was one wicket from victory with 28 runs in hand.

Vidler had other plans.

Vidler had seen his other two partnerships erode quickly and, as Anthony Andronaco arrived, the plan was simple — though brilliantly executed.

Andronaco dug in and abstained from risk-taking of any kind, which his final figures of one run off 34 balls reflect.

Vidler did all he could to generate the offence when necessary, steadily chipping away defiantly.

Events at Kyabram’s game with Karramomus would grow more vital by the ball, knowing the side that fell short at Numurkah would depend on the Bloods for survival.

A couple of LBW near-misses put hearts in mouths on the sidelines, but Vidler’s vivacious efforts brought Central Park home against the odds.

With third place and a home final secured, Tyler Larkin could hardly believe his luck as the Tigers escaped with a most unlikely set of points.

“It was a really good, hard, grinding win,” Larkin said.

“It was good to show some fight throughout the innings and the last partnership was terrific to get us home.

“You always hold out hope. When you get in that situation, it’s always hope more than anything, but every run we got, it felt like we could do it.

“It was pretty tense there in the end.”

Larkin opted not to merely praise one half of the partnership that saved the Tigers’ season, instead ensuring both batters received plenty of credit.

“(Vidler) is a superstar and he’s selfless hitting down the order,” Larkin said.

“Since he’s come home to our club he’s been great for the group.

“I said after the game that he’s the ultimate competitor; I can’t understate the importance of his performance to us.

“Anthony (Andronaco) hasn’t played a full cricket season in about six years and he came out at the end to face 34 balls and get us home, which was another amazing effort.”

To the victors go the spoils — in this case, a mouth-watering grand final rematch in an elimination final meeting with Katandra.

Until then Larkin relishes leaving behind the heartbreak of multiple close defeats in finals this season.

“We feel like it’s been a turning of the corner for us. We were finally able to win one of the grand finals Thursday,” Larkin said.

“It could easily have been us who missed out; we know we’ve just scraped in and, hopefully, we can get one back on Katandra.”

Attention quickly turned to Kyabram, where Numurkah’s destiny hinged on the Bloods’ bats of Lachie Keady and Nathan Jones.

The optimism grew around the showgrounds as the partnership inched closer to an extraordinary upset, but once both fell the rest was academic.

Just one good ball from securing a home final less than half an hour earlier it was all vanishing before Numurkah’s eyes.

Once Charlie McLay trapped Zane Newbound in front with 15 minutes left, abject despair quickly permeated the atmosphere around the Numurkah pavilion as the Blues came to terms with elimination.

“I don’t think I’ve seen it so close between third and seventh in all the time I’ve been playing,’’ Larkin said.

“It’s a good sign for the strength of the competition, though.”