VSDCA 2020-21: Werribee defeats Brunswick by seven wickets

Werribee recorded its fifth win of the season in Round 9, toppling a star-studded opponent with a superb bowling effort.

Matt Dean hit an important half-century for Werribee. Picture: Hamish Blair

Werribee outclassed rival flag contender Brunswick to secure its best win of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season on Saturday.

On the back of a supreme bowling performance and telling new-ball assault, the Tigers triumphed by seven wickets with seven balls remaining at Chirnside Park.

The win left Werribee in sixth position with a 5-1-3 record, while the Wicks dropped from second to fourth on the North-West group table.

Captain-coach Tim O’Brien said it was a significant victory for his team.

“It just shows we can match it with the best teams in the comp,” O’Brien said.

“They were second on the ladder behind Kew. On your day, if you play well, anyone can win in the top six.”

Star-studded Brunswick was reduced to 3-10 after winning the toss, with James Freeman (3-22) and Jonathan Burton (1-19) doing the damage.

Skipper Liam Murphy (19) and Justin Lampard (52) combined for a 42-run stand to temporarily stop the bleeding before Werribee spinner Michael Kelly trapped Murphy lbw.

Lampard aside, the visitors’ batsmen struggled to offer meaningful resistance throughout their innings, mustering just 133 from 39.4 overs.

“The wicket was a little bit slow, but the boys bowled really well,” O’Brien said.

“We had them 3-10, so they were on the back foot early. The wicket was hard to score on, the boys bowled really tight and got consecutive wickets.

“They had one big partnership for a bit, which we broke, and then we were able to get consecutive wickets after that to restrict them.”

Kelly collected 2-24 from eight tidy overs and has grabbed at least one wicket in each of his nine appearances this season.

Mat Palmer (2-37) and Brad Apps (1-21) were the other wicket-takers.

“We got him (Murphy) out straight after the drinks break, which was really important because he was looking to try and go,” O’Brien said.

“Michael has bowled really well the last two weeks and is bowling the best he has this year.”

The Tigers have shifted star Matt Dean from No.3 to the top of the order in the past two weeks, with the left-hander compiling 60 from 108 balls to lead the run chase.

Shaun Dean (31) and O’Brien (23) also made important contributions, while Freeman finished unbeaten on 13.

“He just looks so natural batting there and is safe as houses,” O’Brien said of Matt Dean.

“He just picks his ball, knows his game back to front.

“For him to get 60, he did the damage and put us in a good position.”

Werribee faces another tough fixture in Round 10 as it tackles third-ranked Preston away from home.