Werribee captain Shaun Dean turned the blowtorch on his out-of-sorts middle order batsmen after the side fell by 26 runs to Yarraville in a gripping run chase in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association game at the Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers built a solid foundation early, largely through the Dean brothers – Shaun (69) and Matt (41) – who put on 68 for the second wicket, before crumbling in the middle of the innings to be all out for 257 in their chase for 284 set by the Eagles on day one.
Heath Pritchard was the exception, starring with 67 to back up his 66 not out in the season opener. He had to stay focused while the wickets tumbled around him.
“You need our middle order to do a little bit more than they have been doing,” Dean told
Star Weekly.
“It’s an issue that I pointed out at the end of the game and it’s a bit of a common theme that’s happening – it’s not just this game.
“Our middle order has floated through a little bit and it’s probably time they start to do a little bit more.”
Pritchard would find an ally in teenager Tom Duxson (23). The pair got together with the Tigers in trouble at 8-209 and gave their side a real shot in the arm with a 46-run stand.
With victory in sight, Pritchard’s knock came to an end, cutting the ball on to his stumps, and Duxson’s wicket fell a short time later.
“When those two were going, it looked like we were every chance,” Dean said.
“Heath and Tommy batted really well, didn’t have to play too many rash shots or force the pace; they just hit the loose ones for four and knocked them around to pick up your fives an over.”
Shaun Dean was top scorer for the Tigers. He got a peach of a delivery from four-wicket star Patrick Prestidge to be out leg before wicket.
“I hit them pretty well from the start, but then I got a good ball, it jagged away and hit me on the back leg, and I thought it was pretty close, so I wasn’t surprised when the finger went up,” Dean said.
“I would’ve liked to get a few more and get us closer to the total, if not get us to the total. But you’re happy with 70; it’s just unfortunate that we lost.”
The Tigers will visit Sunshine for a one-day game at Dempster Park on Saturday with both sides holding a 1-1 record after two rounds.
