Miserly Tigers turn the screws on vulnerable Vikings
A SUFFOCATING bowling performance from Thomson piled more misery on Alexander Thomson’s batting woes at Godfrey St Oval on Saturday.
The Vikings could manage only 101 all out in 55 overs as the Tigers applied the clamps to stifle any chance for easy runs.
The Tigers are in the box seat to push for maximum points after coasting to 1-59 at stumps, with Dew (28 not out) and a promoted Corey Bell (14 not out) at the crease.
Just as he did last week when his side was skittled for 75 by St Albans, Vikings captain Cam Henderson (25) was the only batsman in the top order to add any form of resistance in the face of disciplined bowling, led by allrounder Jayden Hicks (4-27) and veteran Grant Dew (5-23), who took care of the tail with his offspinners.
Only a counterattacking 41 by Jay Dunstan batting at No.7 saved any more Vikings’ blushes.
“Our bowling was really disci- plined, we didn’t give them much,” Thomson skipper Adam Bliss said.
“I think we finished with 20 maidens out of 55 overs, and our catching was really clean, especially in the slips with a couple of tough chances. The way we bowl we know we can strangle teams — we feel like we can get on top.
“I felt like if we could take a couple of early wickets and put the pressure on, it’d make it harder for them through the day, and we were able to do that.”
While Bliss said he wasn’t surprised about Dew’s returns with the ball — he “knows his craft and knows his game” — it was the talented Hicks who impressed the Tigers skipper the most.
“I think he’s probably the best cricketer in our division for sure,” Bliss said of Hicks. “He’s a proven Country Week cricketer (and) to have him lead our attack and lead our batting with ‘Dewy’ as well, he’s incredibly valuable.”
Alexander Thomson was put under pressure early as Hicks left it reeling at 3-2 as he blasted out the top order, and if wasn’t for a dropped chance off the bat of Dunstan at gully by Bliss himself in the second over after break, first innings points may have already been Thomson’s.