A strong batting display led by Dylan Brasher guided Footscray to its second win of the Victorian Premier Cricket season on Saturday.
After a rain interrupted the first day of play, the sun greeted players on Saturday and good conditions to bat for the second day of action on the weekend.
Melbourne University resumed at 7-246 on Saturday and put on some late runs to push the score past 300.
It was bowled out for 302 in the 85th over.
Ben Roosenboom, who took three wickets on day one, added another three to the total on Saturday to finish with six wickets for the game.
It was the first time the bowler had taken six wickets in a first XI game in a pleasing sign for his development.
Bulldogs coach Dale McDonald said they had prepared for Melbourne University to bat on.
“It was an opportunity to reset,” he said. “We knew it would be the case [they would bat on] and we were happy to keep them to anything under 320.
“That would give us 75-80 overs to chase down the runs.”
The Bulldogs suffered an early hiccup in the run chase with Aiman Nadeem out for just one.
It brought Dylan Brasher to the crease to join Mitchell Jamieson.
The pair put on 129 for the second wicket.
When Jamieson fell for 63, Dylan Kight, who was coming off 100, joined Brasher; the pair took the Bulldogs within sight of victory.
While Brasher fell, the Bulldogs got the winning runs in the 73rd over, finishing 3-305.
Brasher top scored with 124. It was his second 100 in three games for Footscray this season, while he also has Victorian second XI 100 as well heading into the game against Melbourne University.
Kight finished 88 not out, having made 121 and 47 in his first two digs.
For Jamieson it was his third half century in as many hits this season.
McDonald said the three of them had started the season really well.
He said the key for Brasher as he pushes for selection in the Victorian team was to keep making runs.
“Mitch it was his third 50 in a row,” he said. “It’s been a bit of a change for him after batting at four last year.
“He’s opening the batting and taking up the challenge.
“Dylan that’s his third 100 in four hits and that is really pleasing.
“Kight … the veteran keeps going. He’s moved up to four this year with Travis Dean with some unavailability we wanted to make sure the top order was pretty stable. He’s a selfless player.”
The win takes the Bulldogs to 2-1 for the season and sitting on 11 points.
This week the Bulldogs face Northcote.
