BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
SUPERB bowling spells by Matthew Thomson and Stephen Plumridge helped Werribee to a convincing win against Altona in round three of the Sub-District cricket season on Saturday.
Batting first, Werribee made 9/179 after the allotted 45 overs, with Marcus Worrall, in his second first XI game, top-scoring with 48 and Shaun Dean chipping in with 38.
Werribee safely defended its total, with Thomson and Plumridge snagging four wickets each to bowl Altona out for 119.
Werribee coach Travis Bean commended the metronomic consistency of his bowlers, particularly opening bowler Thomson and 19-year-old Plumridge. “(Thomson) gives you 100 per cent all the time, he just runs in and hits the wicket hard all the time and really deserved his success,” he said. “(Plumridge) bowled to our plan and didn’t give also much room to play shots.”
In encouraging signs for Werribee’s bowling attack, Thomson has joined Brad Hatton and Jonathon Burton as bowlers who have claimed at least four wickets in an innings, after just two rounds of play.
Bean said he was pleased with his side’s batting effort. “It always going to be a very competitive score (179). Generally speaking I always like to bat first. By doing that you’re able to put pressure on the opposition and if you get a few early wickets, which we were able to do, it puts them on the back foot, and it worked well for us. We were able to keep getting regular wickets.”
Aaron Maynard was Altona’s top scorer with 35 not out. He was also Altona’s best bowler with 3/28 off nine overs.
The victory earned Werribee the added honour of claiming the Paul Jenkins Shield. Jenkins played more than 200 first XI games for Altona and Werribee, winning premierships at both clubs. He captain-coached Altona before finishing his career at Werribee.
Werribee will this Saturday take on Broadmeadows, which has Papua New Guinean cricketers Tony Ura and Vani Vagi Morea, who are on a Cricket PNG Future Stars scholarship.
