WERRIBEE has made a triumphant return to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association finals after 12 years on the outer.
The Tigers produced a victory that was well worth the wait, slaughtering the Kingston Saints by 260 runs in the qualifying final at Chirnside Park.
Shaun Dean’s team took full toll on the Saints bowling with 4-362 off 80 overs on day one. Veteran David Wolfe was the star of the show with 110 at the top of the order.
He featured in a 110-run opening stand with the gritty Matthew Dean (32). When Wolfe fell with the score on 2-171, the dangerous duo of Shaun Dean (64) and Tim O’Brien (53) went to work to put on a further 83 for the third wicket. O’Brien’s exit brought Wade McCall to the crease, one of the most dangerous middle order batsmen this summer, and he blasted 68 not out, ensuring the Tigers posted a score above 350.
The Tigers were never threatened on the second da and the Saints were embarrassed to be all out for 102 in 40.1 overs. Matthew Thomson continued to psychological hold over the Saints batsmen with 7-22 off 13.1 overs. It was just a month ago that Thomson 5-12 off 10 against the same line-up.
The Tigers will square off with Elsternwick in a two-day semi-final at Chirnside Park this weekend.
VSDCA qualifying finals
Firsts: Werribee 4-362 (D Wolfe 110 W McCall 68no S Dean 64 T O’Brien 53 MJ Dean 32; A White 2-90) d Kingston Saints 102 (R Best 43 A White 27 M Thomson 7-22 S Plumridge 2-15).
Seconds: Werribee 177 (M Burton 5 C Hennessy 33; HI Duggan 5-26 WT Allen 4-48) lt Malvern 9-270 (TJ Lyons 74 DP McAuley 70 TW Beaton 40; C Moran 3-49 S Molloy 3-57).
Thirds: Kew CC 9-352 (S Sorockyj 138 E Furey 73no BC Anderson 70 G Oakley 48; D Buchanan 3-56 D Taylor 2-102) d Werribee 169 (G Kalnins 61 B Fenton 27; H Shannon-Brown 3-27 P Reitze 2-18 S Jacobs 2-32 T Gill 2-52).
Fourths: Werribee 102 (L Boicos 31 D Mobilia 5-28 D Wallace 2-16) and 5-49 (T Vandekolk 2-17) lt Plenty Valley 145 (D Gage 3-43 R Dodemaide 2-9 B Hurn 2-28).
