Footscray Edgewater moved to within a game of a Premier Cricket grand final after wiping out Carlton by 144 runs in the qualifying final at Merv Hughes Oval at the weekend.
With rain threatening, the second-ranked Bulldogs needed only to secure a draw to advance, but they came out on the second day and took the Blues to the cleaners in a performance coach Steve Chapman says will stand the inexperienced finals side in good stead.
PICTURE GALLERY: Footscray Edgewater v Carlton
“I must be honest, I was quietly hoping the rain wouldn’t spoil the game,” he said.
“In games like this, when it’s sudden death, if the game goes the full way, there’s some lessons that can be learned … it would’ve robbed us of a good opportunity and good experience if it had got washed out.
“We’re through on merit and that’s important. We’re into the last four and, to be fair, we’ve been one of the best four teams all year. It’s a good reward for the way the guys have applied themselves this year.”
The Bulldogs dug in on day one to post 9-252 off 100 overs.
The heroes were red-hot Dean Russ (66) and return-to-form Dylan Kight (61).
Russ was at his patient best, anchoring the innings and continuing the fine form that has seen him feature for the Victorian Bushrangers in their past two Sheffield Shield matches.
“That was probably as well as Dean’s played all year,” Chapman said. “He was calm, he was methodical, he was prepared to leave.”
Kight’s batting form has been up and down like a yo-yo, but he turned up the heat just when the Bulldogs needed him most.
“It was a classy, influential innings,” Chapman said.
Sunam Gautam made 41 in the middle order, while there were important knocks from Hamish Winter-Irving (21no) and Jake Haberfield (17).
Haberfield (7-25 off 17) and Winter-Irving (1-17 off 13) bowled the Bulldogs to victory on the second day. With seven wickets and a season tally of 49, Haberfield is rightly winning plaudits, but Chapman lauds one of the best new-ball tandems in the league and the big role Winter-Irving plays as part of it.
“Hamish’s performance is not to be underestimated,” Chapman said. “His figures were not outstanding, but he was a massive influence on the outcome of that game.
“He always has the tough end to bowl from into the wind. Jake always comes in with his express pace, so we give him the end with the better conditions.
“Hamish doesn’t give anything to score off, and that has to be noted.”
The Bulldogs will host Geelong in a semi-final at Merv Hughes Oval at the weekend with the winner to advance to the grand final.
