VSDCA 2020-21: Werribee defeats Kew in major grand final upset

Werribee came from fifth to claim the VSDCA premiership, toppling a star-studded Kew side boasting former Test player John Hastings in the decider.

Werribee celebrates its remarkable VSDCA North-West group premiership. Picture: Supplied

Kew had assembled an all-star line-up and was the indomitable force.

Werribee was the underdog few expected to prevail.

But the tenacious Tigers defied the doubters to secure one of the most remarkable grand final triumphs in Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association history on Saturday.

It was the club’s first top grade premiership since 1995-96 (the last of a three-peat).

Werribee achieved the feat from fifth position at the end of the home-and-away rounds, knocking off the top-three teams during the finals series, culminating with a four-run victory in the decider on Kew’s home turf.

The success came after it was denied a shot at glory last season amid the coronavirus crisis, with Williamstown awarded the flag as the higher-ranked team.

The Tigers were also facing one of the best teams in recent memory.

Kew gained star trio John Hastings, Matt Brown and Will Sheridan over the off-season, entered the season finale undefeated and appeared unbeatable.

But there are no guarantees in sport.

Werribee executed its plans to perfection on the big stage, putting a competitive score on the board before strangling Kew’s prolific batsmen.

“We probably couldn’t have played any better, and that’s what we needed to get over a formidable side in Kew,” captain-coach Tim O’Brien said.

“40-over cricket, it was a year where we said whatever happens, happens, but I’m still speechless we actually won the game.”

Congrats @WerribeeCC

2020-21 @SubbiesCricket North-West premiers by four runs over @KewCricketClub. pic.twitter.com/CEpC8nsOUC

— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) March 27, 2021

There was, however, no shortage of drama as the Tigers looked on the verge of sealing victory.

Man-of-the-match Michael Kelly (3-28) secured the significant scalps of Sheridan (47) and David Wildsmith (12) in the 32nd over to leave the home side 5-103 in response to Werribee’s 8-174.

The former Premier Cricket spinner sent down eight immaculate overs and also removed Kew skipper Chris Weeks (6).

But with the required run rate almost nine runs an over, No.6 Hastings launched a brutal assault as he threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The powerful all-rounder, who played one Test for Australia, had 47 from 26 balls to his name before he picked out Kelly on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Matt Palmer’s bowling in the second last over of the match.

Kew required 11 from the final over after Hastings’ departure, but Brad Apps (3-53) held firm under extreme pressure as the red-hot favourite was restricted to 9-170.

Kew needed four from the last ball to tie (which would have handed it a premiership) and five to win, but Apps sent down a dot ball to trigger raucous celebrations.

While the Tigers were jubilant, Kew was left in disbelief that a summer of dominance had failed to deliver the ultimate prize.

But O’Brien admitted Hastings’ cameo, which included three sixes, had his team on edge.

“He’s played Test cricket, he’s a gun player,” he said.

“I’ve played against him since I was a young kid when he was in NSW and knew he could hit a big ball.

“If Hastings won them the game, full credit to him. But to our credit, to get him out and they needed four off the last ball (for a tie), so it still wasn’t over.

“But Appsy thrives on something like that, so it was a terrific last over.”

Jonathan Burton (1-11 from eight) and James Freeman (0-30 from eight) bowled superbly with the new ball to put Kew behind the run rate.

The pair created several moments of uncertainty for Sheridan and Brown as Werribee dropped two chances in the early exchanges.

Jonathan Burton bowled superbly in the grand final. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Jono puts teams on the back foot and he did it again today,” O’Brien said.

“His control has been unbelievable for us and he was probably the one who got us off to a good start.

“Freeman did a hammy a couple of weeks ago and he’s been coming off a short run. It might be the way forward for him because he has not missed his spot, and it’s still coming through pretty good for him.

“We might have found something with him to get him through more cricket games and get more overs out of him going forward in two-day cricket.”

Earlier, opener Shaun Dean (46 from 86) and No.3 Matt Dean (50 from 74) laid the foundations with a 101-run partnership.

The Tigers lost some momentum in the second half of their innings after advancing to 1-85 at the 20-over mark as Kew’s spinners applied the squeeze, but the total ultimately proved enough on the back of the dependable duo’s hard labour.

“I think they’re the two hardest guys to get out in Sub-District Cricket, and two-day cricket has always suited them,” O’Brien said.

“But the way we were able to score and put the bad ball away (was pleasing).

“Shaun’s our rock … and that was the best I’ve seen Matt bat all year. It was a terrific innings.”

O’Brien noted Werribee’s First XI was made up of mostly local talent, with five players featuring in the club’s 2012-13 grand final defeat to Melton.

Before Saturday, it had struggled to get the job done in finals despite boasting one of the VSDCA’s best batting line-ups for several years.

But it has earned a just reward for seven finals appearances in the past nine seasons.

“We’ve had a team to win a flag probably in the last nine years, but we haven’t done it,” O’Brien said.

“We’ve put ourselves in positions to do that, but to get one this year, I think it will be regarded as one of the best flags the club’s won.

“To win it with just Werribee people … we’re all one-point players. To be able to do that against a side like Kew, who have recruited really well this year and topped up and haven’t lost a game all year, is a great effort.

“If we played 10 times, we might get up once … but the gods smiled on us and we got the chocolates.”