By Charlene Gatt
WILLIAMSTOWN has followed up last month’s premiership glory with a resounding 63-run victory over Box Hill in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association’s Championship Final at Caulfield Park over the weekend.
The clash of the season between the North/East and South/West 1st XI premiers saw the western suburbs thrive after Williamstown’s strong opening innings was followed up by an even better one fielding.
Top order batsmen Craig Sheedy (72) and Graham Murdoch (41) posted an impressive total to get Williamstown off to an early start.
Nick Jensen (17), Grant Sanders (19) and Daryl Clemson (19) tried to keep up the momentum, but Box Hill’s strong bowling offence successfully stemmed the early tide of runs.
Andrew Blake was magic with the leather, claiming 3/36 off 21 overs, while Mark Warren and Sam Morris (5/74 off 32.4 overs) were also handy with the ball.
Williamstown saw out the day on 9/209.
Day two saw Box Hill’s Andrew Goldsmith (68) and Peter Lazer (22) make bold attempts to chase the obtainable score, but Williamstown brought out its bowling arsenal to halt the opposition in its tracks.
Man of the match Cain Speakman posted an impressive 5/30, much to the chagrin of Box Hill’s batsmen, while Murdoch (3/29) proved just as handy with the ball as the bat, helping to dismiss the side for 146.
