By LIAM TWOMEY
WERRIBEE is the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association runner-up after losing to Melton by 68 runs in the competition’s grand final on Sunday. Melton won the toss and chose to bat first in good conditions on day one with both sides producing high-level cricket.
After a 44-run opening partnership, Jake Purton claimed the all-important wicket of inform batsman Mick Allen, before fellow opener Michael Alexander was dismissed 10 runs later.
With the score at 2/54, only another three wickets would fall throughout the day as Melton took a cautious approach in the middle.
The Lions maintained wickets in hand and with nine overs left, made their move.
Middle order batsmen Anthony Gale and Jeremy Liddy blasted more than 70 runs from the final 54 balls as Melton posted 5/241 at the end of the day’s play.
In response, Werribee made a bright start, seeing off Melton opening bowler Shane Harwood to reach 0/40 from 20 overs.
From there, the Lions took control of the match, taking the remaining 10 wickets for 143 runs as the pressure of tight bowling and the required run rate became too much for the Tigers.
Werribee president Ivo Havard paid credit to a polished Melton outfit.
“We learnt a lot over the weekend about finals cricket and Melton are a seasoned finals team,” he said.
“They have played in the last five grand finals and they have won four now. It is all credit to them. They are a really good side.
“We played well enough for 71 overs on Saturday and in the last nine overs of their innings they got away from us. They probably got 75 off the last nine. The last hour of cricket for us was tough.”
Captain Shaun Dean fought hard for Werribee with 30 while lower order batsman Adam Alifraco added 40 runs during the run chase.
Despite the weekend’s loss, Havard is confident the Tigers have taken the right steps to being a long term VSDCA premiership contender.
“We finished second in the Club Championship and we think we have a good future with a lot of young kids coming through,” he said.
“They will all be better for the experiences of this year. All four teams played in finals. We will be good for a long time, which is what we want.
“We don’t want to be a flash in the pan. We want to be playing top class cricket and I think we have the playing list to do that.”
Werribee players are expected to figure heavily in VSDCA team of the year contention with both Dean and Tim O’Brien in the top five run getters for the season.
“Shaun and Tim in the leadership group did a top job,” Havard said.
“They are two young guys who will hopefully be at our cricket club for a long time and we can mould a winning group around them. It was a ripper season from both of them.”
