VSDCA 2020-21: Werribee topples Yarraville with two balls to spare

There was no shortage of nervous moments as Werribee knocked off a VSDCA rival in Round 7.

Werribee’s Mathew Palmer sends one down against Yarraville. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Werribee overcame some middle-order wobbles to claim a crucial victory over rival Yarraville in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association on Saturday.

The Tigers secured the points with two balls to spare in a nail-biting encounter, improving their win-loss record to 4-3 and lifting them in fifth position on the North-West group ladder.

Werribee made a bright start to its pursuit of 191, with skipper Tim O’Brien (41) and Shaun Dean (32) combining for a 65-run opening stand.

But Matt Dean (12), James Freeman (19) and Adam Alifraco (7) all departed cheaply to leave the visitors on shaky ground at 5-123.

But with the required run rate climbing, wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Harmer (25), Ryan Alifraco (16) and Mathew Palmer (15 not out) were ice cool.

O’Brien was pleased to see his middle and lower-order stand up under pressure as the Tigers finished 7-191 from 39.4 overs.

Werribee’s Jackson Watt on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“They pegged us back through the middle period and we probably didn’t place the ball well with the bat and hit a lot of fielders,” O’Brien said.

“We were probably on top of the game, then they got on top, and towards the end we were lucky enough to get a few boundaries.

“Matt Harmer and Mat Palmer both hit a six each and we were looking at nine runs an over needed at one stage.

“But we got a couple of big overs and pegged it back and needed six from the last over.”

Captain-coach Matthew Grose delivered a fine performance with the ball for the home side, returning 4-41.

Earlier, gun opener Josh Hahnel led Yarraville’s charge after it won the toss, hitting eight boundaries in his 88.

The knock lifted Hahnel’s season tally to 378 runs at 63, including two centuries, from seven innings this season.

Yarraville’s Josh Hahnel has been in red-hot form. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Eagles posted 3-190, with Adam Alifraco (1-18) and Michael Kelly (1-33) the Tigers’ wicket-takers.

“They were none down at the 20-over mark, so they had a platform to really go,” O’Brien said.

“We put the clamps on and it was probably only the last five or six overs where they got away from us when it looked like they’d get 170 or 180.

“But at Yarraville you’d take chasing that most times.”

Werribee is preparing for a vital fortnight, with clashes against neighbouring Hoppers Crossing (sixth) and Brunswick (second).

“If we can win that, whoever goes to 5-3 instead of 4-4 can really set themselves up to hopefully play finals,” O’Brien said of next weekend’s away fixture against Hoppers.

“It’s definitely a big game this week. We’re not looking too far forward to Brunswick, just to this week.

“If we can get to 5-3 with five weeks to go, it gives us a good chance of winning more games than we lose and hopefully we can get there (finals).”