Kennewell finished with bowling figures of 4-13, including a hat-trick, and top scored with 49 after Centrals slumped to 7-38 chasing CYMS’ 182.

Skipper Kennewell said Centrals “let off the pedal a bit”.

“We should have kept them under 100,” he said.

“It’s not the start we were after… but it’s a learning curve for everyone.”

Early in the day, Centrals were in the box seat after Kennewell and fellow quick Dan Sanford’s bowling partnership left CYMS at 5-25, including a three over period where CYMS lost 4-3.

Kennewell’s hat-trick began with Grant Koch caught behind for nought, then CYMS captain Hamish Finlayson bowled, top-of-off, for a golden duck. 

On the first ball of Kennewell’s next over, Mick Hannelly – at that stage the anchor of the CYMS’ innings with 18 runs – skied a delivery to cover trying to go over the tightened infield. 

Despite being five wickets down and the pitch “moving a bit”, CYMS regained control with Ben Chiarella and Mitch Winslade righting the ship, putting on 32 runs and seeing off the end of Kennewell and Sanford’s opening spell.

As the bowling changed, CYMS was able to get on the front foot, and despite losing Chiarella for 22, Mitch Winslade and Sam Dwyer were able to put on a 64-run stand.

Dwyer made a quickfire 38, hitting four sixes – including three sixes in a row off Matthew Ripps – before being caught.

Winslade finished on 61 not out, and put on another 60 runs with the now-wagging tail, and lower order batsmen West, Novak and Gott all chipped in with valuable runs to steer the hosts to be all out for 182 in the 36^th over. 

After the break things kept going wrong for Centrals, reeling at 7-31 after nine overs.  

Four of the Centrals wickets were leg before wicket calls, including Dean Turner for nine and Ben Winslade for two. 

In total, five batsmen ended up on two runs, and only two hit double figures, leaving Kennewell, Zac Reimers and the sundries to play lone hands in getting Centrals to 107. 

Peter Gott did the damage for CYMS, taking 5-30 off his eight over, sharing the new ball with Chris Novak.

Novak took an incredible 2-12 off eight, yet somehow didn’t tally a single maiden, with a three being hit off him the most to go in an over. 

Pat Madden took 2-18 from six overs with his spin bowling, including the vital wicket of Kennewell for 49. 

“It was a full toss and should have gone for six, but I skied it straight to midwicket,” Kennewell said of the dismissal, “but that’s just cricket”.

Centrals have the chance to rebound against reigning champions Cavaliers next weekend at Wade Park, while CYMS play Orange City at Country Club Oval.