LED by Matt Lyon and Kyle Nonnenmacher, an understrength Centrals produced their best performance of the season to down Gladstone at Moulder Park on Saturday, despite missing a host of their regular stars.

Anthony Salmon, Matt Tedeschi, Nick McGrath, Barney Davis and Will Richard were among those missing from the Centrals side, but in their absence Lyon and Nonnenmacher shone as the red and blacks successfully chased down 210 for victory.

Lyon starred with the ball, snaring 6-53 as Centrals restricted the powerful Gladstone unit to 9-209, before Nonnenmacher walloped 62 in the chase, helping his side reach their target with five balls and four wickets to spare.

Gladstone started well after winning the toss and batting, with Luke Wilson (30), Kyran Bubb (48) and Gary Cole (49) helping their side reach 2-126 before Lyon came into the attack.

The wily medium pacer snared Ben Easter (0) first up, sparking a collapse which saw Gladstone lose 6-35, although a fighting 25 not out from Tony Chaplin pushed his side beyond 200.

Said total would normally be more than enough against Centrals, a side which has been hard up passing 150 in recent games, but not on Saturday.

Matt Ripps (22) and Nonnenmacher added 41 for the first wicket, before the latter combined with Duncan Baird (54) to pile on 112 for the second.

Despite Nonnenmacher and Baird being dismissed within two overs of one another, Josh Coyte (24) and Mark Hayman (12 not out) saw Centrals home.

In Saturday’s other second grade games Orange City’s Jamie Stedman finally found some form again after a run of low scores, including several ducks, blasting a superb 68 not out to lead his side to a comfortable eight-wicket win over CYMS, while Kinross trumped Cavaliers.

The Warriors maintain their stranglehold on the second grade competition as a result, with CYMS staying in second spot. But with their win Centrals leapfrog Gladstone into third.

In third grade Twenty20 action Waratahs (3-107) defeated Kinross (105) and Wanderers (7-138) trumped the Peter Snowden-led CYMS Green Bears (6-113).

In Centenary Cup Twenty20, CYMS Fahys (7-100) and CYMS Kellys (5-100) played out an exciting tie at Brendon Sturgeon Oval.