Footscray Edgewater walked away from the weekend’s double-header of Premier Cricket matches with a win and a loss.
The win was welcome relief from the horror start of a comprehensive defeat by Fitzroy Doncaster.
Batting first in the opener, the Bulldogs collapsed to 8-79 and it looked as though a sub-100 score was on the cards. But a lower-order fightback ensured Footscray’s bowlers had something to work with.
Michael Kelly smashed 37 not-out to lift the total to 9-145 at the end of 50 overs.
The target looked thin and it proved to be just that when the Fitzroy Doncaster’s batsmen got to work. Opener Peter Dickson made 86 from just 88 balls, while Timothy Sheehan scored 40.
Their 103-run partnership launched the Lions to a nine-wicket win.
Footscray responded in better fashion against Greenvale on Sunday. Again batting first, the top order fired with captain Dean Russ blasting 78 and being backed up by Michael Hill, who made 33, and Hamish Winter-Irving, 43.
The total of 6-244 was never in danger of being chased down. Greenvale struggled from the outset and by its innings’ midpoint all hope of victory was gone.
For Footscray, Jeremy Hart and Ben Green each took two wickets.
After three rounds, Footscray holds a 2-1 win-loss record. The Bulldogs take on Kingston Hawthorn in a one-day fixture this week.
