FOOTSCRAY Edgewater came up well short in its run chase to lose by a resounding 77 runs to Prahran in Victorian Premier Cricket at Merv Hughes Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs would have gone to the innings changeover with a hint of confidence after restricting the visitors to 8-173 off 50 overs after four main bowlers kept the runs to a minimum.
Brad Robertson, one of the standout bowlers for the Dogs last summer, maintained the rage in his first outing with a strangling 1-18 off 10 overs, while Hamish Winter-Irving was solid with 0-36.
Andrew McCammond and Ben Green benefited from the openers’ pressure, bringing about three breakthroughs apiece.
McCammond took 3-21 off 10 overs, including the top three in the Prahran batting order, while Green had identical figures to put the brakes on later in the innings.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, their own top-order batsmen failed to take charge.
Openers West Robinson (nine) and Dean Russ (13) got going, but failed to capitalise on good starts and the Dogs were staggering at 2-41.
Russ’s dismissal had a domino effect with the Bulldogs losing 6-24 in the middle of the order, leaving too much work for the tailend.
The Bulldogs have a massive opportunity not only to square the ledger but forge a winning record with back-to-back one-day games this weekend.
First up, it’s a trip to Frankston Peninsula on Saturday, followed by a home clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.
Firsts: Prahran 8-173 (McCammond 3-21 Green 3-31) d Footscray Edgewater 96.
Seconds: Prahran 155 (Livingstone 2-16
M Kelliher 2-17 S Hollins 2-35 L Dredge 2-40) d Footscray Edgewater 139 (Freeman 47no Kelliher 25)
Thirds and fourths: Prahran v Footscray Edgewater — no play.
