Heath Pritchard’s insatiable appetite for success was on show for all to see on day one of Werribee’s blockbuster Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association bout with Oakleigh at Warrawee Park on Saturday.
Pritchard ripped through the Oaks’ batting line-up with 7-64 off 24.5 overs, affected a key run-out and led the way with his upbeat tempo on the field.
“He just wants the club to have success and be a part of it,” Tigers captain Shaun Dean said. “He’s quite chirpy and up and about, and carries himself well.
“He’s geeing everyone up. You can’t ask for much more.”
Pritchard was able to stifle the Oaks through his nagging line-and-length bowling.
The Oaks ended the day on 273, but it would have been so much more had Pritchard not picked up his seven.
His most important wicket of the day didn’t come through his bowling but a lucky deflection to run out opener Brendan McGuinness for 68.
Pritchard saw the ball smashed back at him and guided it on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end to catch McGuinness out of his crease.
“We were really happy to get him out before he really got going because we could’ve been chasing a little bit more if he was in at the end,” Dean said.
Pritchard’s influence with the ball was measured in more than wickets.
In the hour period between the tea break and final drinks, Pritchard combined with Nathan Burton (1-88 off 26 overs) to stem the run flow.
Part-time medium-pacer Matt Dean chimed in with an economical 0-12 off five in a crucial period of the day.
“It was great energy from everyone in that period,” Dean said. “It was a 20-over spell where the game could’ve gotten away from us or we could drag it back in. We really put the clamps on.”
Pritchard is the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 39 at 9.44. The all-rounder has taken five five-wicket hauls.
“He keeps doing the job,” Dean said. “He gets a lot of overs and that’s because he puts the ball in the right spot.”
The Tigers have welcomed a challenging run chase two weeks out from the finals.
The target of 274 – albeit on a ground with a lightning-fast outfield – will put an unblemished 11-game winning record in jeopardy.
“It’s a pretty good score and they’ve got a good honest attack, so it will be an interesting run chase,” Dean said.
“It will be a good test and everyone is looking forward to it.”
