By LIAM TWOMEY
WERRIBEE made the perfect start to the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association season with a seven wicket thrashing of Box Hill. In what looked to be perfect batting conditions, the Tigers were dealt an early blow after losing the toss and being forced to bowl.
However, that was about the only thing that didn’t go to plan for the day as Werribee dominated the contest.
After adding 22 for the opening stand, Box Hill lost 2/0 to be forced onto the back foot.
The news only got worse the longer the match progressed with a second collapse coming in the middle order, this time yielding 4/10.
The Box Hill tail added 47 runs to give their bowlers something to bowl at and lift the score to 9/121.
In reply, Werribee made light work of the total, reaching 3/122 in the 40th over.
Werribee captain Shaun Dean was rapt his side was able to start the season with a win.
“It was a pretty good start, obviously in round one you never know what can happen so whoever you are up against you are always wary,” he said.
Tigers’ recruit Heath Pritchard showed why he was such a sought-after name, taking two wickets in his first hit-out with his new club.
He then chipped in with 38 not out, coming in at number five.
“It is great to be able to have someone, especially in one-dayers, to be able to take wickets in that middle part of the innings and bust the game open,” Dean said.
“He (Pritchard) got the number five and six out and really broke the game open for us so we could get into the tail.”
When round two of the VSDCA season begins this week, Werribee will take on Altona.
The A’s are looking like making a big jump up the ladder this season after adding Andrew McCammond, Peter Herrick and Shane Jones to their side.
McCammond claimed his first five wicket haul of the season last week while Aaron Maynard hit a century.
“When I heard Altona did pick those guys up in the off-season I had them pretty high up,” Dean said. “I know a lot of these guys because I have played with and against them for a long time in premier cricket.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket with Aaron Maynard down at Geelong and I rate him as one of the better players in the competition. He is another one for them … if we can get him out cheaply it will go a long way toward winning the game.”
