Werribee has lurched deeper into the mire after a fourth consecutive loss to start the season has it in unfamiliar surroundings on the bottom of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west group ladder.
The Tigers remain the only team in the competition without a point after a six-wicket loss to Plenty Valley on the road at AK Line Reserve on Saturday.
It was always going to be an uphill task for the Tigers, who could only muster 153 off 56.3 overs.
Plenty Valley reached the target comfortably in 64.4 overs.
Werribee captain-coach Tim O’Brien is concerned with his side’s lack of batting application.
“They gave us a lesson in how to bat time,” he said. “They didn’t have to take any risks because they had plenty of overs to get the runs and that’s the way they batted.
“Maybe we have to approach it different and bat a bit more for time. The key for us now is to bat our 80 overs in the two-dayers.”
The Tigers may be down, but O’Brien insists they are not out.
The Tigers, enduring a daunting fixture list to start the season, have been beaten by four of the top seven sides, including Preston (seventh), Melton (fourth), Williamstown (first) and Plenty Valley (second).
So the draw will surely offer some respite in the games surrounding the New Year break.
More importantly, spirits are still high in the Tiger camp.
“The vibe around the team is pretty good,” O’Brien said.
“We’re zip and four, but you wouldn’t think that amongst the group at the moment, which is a positive.
“All we need to do is get a win on the board and we can move forward.”
Werribee was sprightly in the field to make Plenty Valley earn every run.
The trouble for the bowlers was the small score was barely defendable against a side in premiership contention.
“We never gave up,” O’Brien said. “We made them work hard, but they didn’t have to take any risks at all, just batted time and hung around.
“They got their ones and twos here and there and ended up passing it [the target].”
Jonathan Burton was outstanding with the ball for Werribee, snaring 1-32 off 20.4.
There were positive signs for teenager Jackson Watt, with the speedster taking 1-36 off 10. Spinner Michael Kelly continued his great start to the season with 2-48 off 16. If Werribee still wants to be in finals contention at the Christmas break, it must get the job done against St Bernard’s Old Collegians in a two-day game at Chirnside Park starting on Saturday.
“It’s a crucial game next week,” O’Brien said. “We need to get a win on the board to get our season rolling.”
Meanwhile, the game between Altona and Hoppers Crossing was declared a draw after no play was possible on day two.
