Lance Jenkinson
Footscray was powerless to mute the cracking sound coming off the Melbourne bats in a heavy nine-wicket defeat in the Victorian Premier Cricket qualifying final at Merv Hughes Oval over the weekend.
A young Bulldogs bowling attack copped a battering from Demons top-order stars Sam Harper (122 not out) and Blake Thomson (90 not out) with the pair putting on an unbroken 207 to guide Melbourne to the victory target of 215 in just 54.1 overs.
“It was a lot earlier finish than we would’ve hoped,” Footscray captain Dylan Kight lamented.
“That’s what happens when you’re on the wrong end of a couple of good players.
“They put us to the sword.”
The writing was on the wall for Footscray at stumps on day one.
After the Bulldogs captured the early wicket of Jack Harper for a duck, they were on the end of a batting assault by Sam Harper and Thomson.
Melbourne raced to 1-76 in a whirlwind 14 overs before stumps.
“We were probably both sides of the wicket and a bit too attacking,” Kight said.
“The two batters didn’t miss the middle of their bat.”
Footscray bowled much better early on day two on Sunday, but with just 139 to get, Melbourne cruised to the target.
If there is a positive for the Bulldogs, it was the bowlers response to their wayward bowling and the teachings that can come from the loss.
The Bulldogs get to live to fight another day after securing a double chance in the finals.
“That’s why you fight so hard during the year to earn a top four spot,” Kight said.
“I hope we learn from this loss.
“We spoke about it.
“Our season is still going and as long as we learn from it, it could be a positive.”
Footscray could only muster 214 off its 78.3 overs on day one.
The Bulldogs threatened to get the scoreboard humming, but lost too many wickets at critical junctures.
Young Bulldogs opener Dylan Brasher produced a fine knock of 50 off 72 balls.
“He was batting the house down,” Kight said.
Travis Dean (36) and Daniel Sartori (37) each faced over 100 balls for their runs, but got out as they were starting to pick up the pace.
“It’s been a similar story the last three games we’ve played,” Kight said.
“A lot of starts, not many people have gone out under 10, but no one got the big score of 80-plus, which you need to make 250-plus in finals.”
Footscray will host a star-studded St Kilda in a do-or-die two-day semi final at Merv Hughes Oval this weekend.
