Plenty Valley is in control after day one of its clash with Werribee in the Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association’s north west competition.
The Bats, coming off their first loss of the season, were keen to rebound against a side which is yet to win a match this season.
The Tigers started well with a first wicket partnership of 38, but that was the end of the good news for them.
The Bats bowlers turned it on, with Simon Black and Ashur Morrison taking two wickets each, as the Bats claimed 4-9 to have the Tigers in trouble at 4-47 and put the game firmly in their hands.
The Tigers steadied and moved to 91, before the loss of both set batsmen halted their run and put pressure on the middle and bottom order.
The Tigers were able to get small partnerships for the rest of the innings, but were unable to produce anything significant.
They were finally bowled out for 153 in the 57th over.
Simon Black took 4-47 off 14 overs, while Sean Ayres bowled tightly taking 1-20 off 15 overs – including seven maidens – in a strong performance.
With plenty of time left in the day, the Bats had nearly 20 overs to bat out the day.
But they got off to the worst possible start with Sean Ayres out for a duck.
Ryan Pearson and Simon Bray steadied and they were 1-44 at stumps.
Bray will resume on 30 not out and Pearson on 13.
The Bats second side is 0-24 chasing Werribee’s 177.
