Tim O’Brien and Shaun Dean combined for 1366 runs for Werribee in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association last summer.
They finished in the top five – O’Brien second on the aggregate list with 739 runs at 73.9 and Dean fifth with 627 runs at 48.2 – and were critical in the run to the grand final.
On Saturday, the Tigers proved in a nail-biting two-wicket win over Mt Waverley that it doesn’t have an unhealthy reliance on the star pair.
Both O’Brien and Dean returned to the pavilion with ducks to their names, but the Tigers still found a way to secure their fifth successive win.
“We’ve been struggling in the top order,” Dean said. “They’re getting a little bit of a hit down the order and saving our backsides.”
The Tigers were set 169 for victory in 42 rain-reduced overs.
Jonathan Burton was the pick of the Tiger bowlers with 3-18 off nine straight overs.
Mt Waverley’s innings could have been a disaster but for Chanaka Sampath, who made 102 not out.
“He played quite well, played his shots early and got away from us a bit,” Dean said.
“It was a smallish ground with a quick outfield, so 168 didn’t seem to bother me too much.”
The Tigers had a solid opening stand between Matthew Dean (55) and Marcus Worrall (21).
When Worrall was removed, one wicket turned into three and the Tigers were staring down at the barrel at 3-30.
Dean’s fourth-wicket partnership with in-form Jake Purton (33) went some way to getting the innings back on track.
When Purton went out to a careless shot, the Tigers still needed 62 to win at roughly a run a ball.
Matt Dean would be the glue of the innings, ensuring the Tigers got over the line.
“Matt’s an experienced player … it’s handy to have someone like him at the top of the order,” Shaun Dean said.
“When he gets in those situations, he knows exactly how to handle it. His innings was crucial to get us within reach of winning.”
The Tigers crept over the line with a ball to spare to remain one of two undefeated sides in the competition. They will entertain Yarraville in a two-day game at Chirnside Park starting on Saturday.
