Werribee was on high alert throughout Malvern’s run chase at the Malvern Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Even if it appeared as though the Tigers were comfortably defending their total of 9-252, it was never a sure thing until the 10th wicket fell in a 62-run victory in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west group.
Tigers captain Tim O’Brien was relieved to secure the win that moves his side up to second on the ladder.
“With the ground being so small, it only takes a couple of good overs to get them back in the game,” he said.
“It was very important for us to keep on taking wickets because it’s not the sort of ground you want to be bowling late against a team with wickets in hand.”
The Tigers were not at their effervescent best, having lulls from time to time throughout the day.
O’Brien was concerned that his side was too relaxed.
“We probably didn’t come out after tea as we would’ve liked,” he said.
“Maybe it was a little bit of complacency, but they had a bit more urgency with the bat and we thought we didn’t have that in the field.”
Concerns peaked for Werribee late in the day.
At 7-117, the Tigers had thoughts of wrapping up the tail quickly and heading home for Australia Day celebrations.
But Malvern’s lower order dug in, particularly Michael McKenna (57) and Alexander Ross (35), who made it a nervous end to the day for Werribee.
“They had a couple of tailenders that batted pretty well,” O’Brien said.
“It was a pretty flat wicket and the ground is quite small … so if you got yourself in, you can do some damage.
“They needed to get about nine an over at that stage, so we just needed to reduce the runs and we did that.”
New ball operators Jonathan Burton (3-38 off 21 overs) and Brad Apps (3-39 off 19) snared three wickets apiece for Werribee.
Burton’s first spell had the Tigers roaring early in the day as he snared the scalps of both openers. Apps ripped through the middle order.
“The quicks did the job pretty well before tea,” O’Brien said. “They bowled full and straight and to the field and they were hard to score off.”
Werribee used only four bowlers for the day.
O’Brien did not bowl as he is recovering from a shoulder niggle, while Adam Alifraco was not needed.
“We only wanted to bowl spin from one end and Mick Kelly was going pretty well,” O’Brien said.
Kelly finished with the neat figures of 3-55 off 21.4 overs.
The Tigers will be out to defend second spot when they host Hoppers Crossing at Chirnside Park over the next two Saturdays.
It will be Werribee’s last home game of the season, irrespective of whether they earn a home final. The Tigers will be kicked off the Watton Street ground to make way for an AFL JLT Series pre-season game between North Melbourne and St Kilda on March 2.
Meanwhile, Hoppers Crossing suffered a tough five-run loss to lowly Moorabbin at Moorleigh Community Village Reserve.
In pursuit of 233 for victory, the Cats were bowled out for 227.
Opener Cameron Nicol was the top scorer for the Cats with 61, while wicketkeeper Justin Goegan made his high score for the season with 41.
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