Werribee dismantled Box Hill by seven wickets in the season-opening Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association one-dayer at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers banished the off-season cobwebs with an impressive first-up performance, controlling the game from start to finish.
“It was a pretty clinical win by the boys,” Tigers captain Shaun Dean said.
“Round one, no matter who you’re up against, is never an easy game – everyone is rusty – so to do that as well as we did is quite pleasing.”
The Tigers’ bowlers set the standard for the day, restricting Box Hill to a manageable 9-121 off 45 overs.
Matthew Thomson took a superb 1-6 off seven overs, including five maidens.
“I couldn’t ask for more from an opening bowler,” Dean said.
Jonathan Burton, the other new-ball bowler, snared 1-28 off nine.
Change bowlers Adam Alifraco (2-23 off nine) and new recruit Heath Pritchard (2-17 off nine) were able to put the clamps on in the middle overs.
If Dean was to nitpick a flaw in the Tigers’ game, it was the concession of 20 runs in the final two overs.
The Tigers’ biggest strength last summer was their batting and there was no wavering on that count.
They cruised to the target three down with 27 balls to spare.
The foundations were set by openers Matthew Dean (13) and new recruit Michael Freeman (21), who survived until the opening bowlers were out of the attack.
That allowed Dean (35no) and Pritchard (38no) to cash in and get the Tigers over the line.
Allrounder Pritchard, in his first game as a Tiger, showed why the club was so glad to claim his signature.
“He broke the game open with two wickets,” Dean said. “Then he broke the shackles for us when we were getting a big tied down with the bat. He hit a few fours and then the game was there for the taking.”
The Tigers will face western suburbs rival Altona in a two-day match at Chirnside Park starting on Saturday.
The sides will battle it out for the Paul Jenkins Shield.
