Footscray Edgewater’s spectacular start to the Premier Cricket season claimed another unsuspecting victim in neighbours Essendon.
The Bulldogs were also-rans last season but are now being talked up as finals contenders.
After Saturday’s thumping nine-wicket win over the Bombers, it’s not hard to see why. They finished a block of one-dayers with a 4-1 record and attention is turning to whether they can sustain their form in the two-day format.
PICTURE GALLERY: Footscray Edgewater v Essendon
Bulldogs coach Steve Chapman told the Weekly a number of factors had led to the vast improvement this season, including players who developed under former coach Barry Neivandt being a year older, bowlers showing improvement in all facets and the fielders building pressure on the opposition.
The already-imposing batting line-up – led by captain Dean Russ, wicketkeeper Dylan Kight and first drop Travis Dean – has picked up from where it left off last summer.
The Bombers, sent in on a slow, low deck, crumbled for 96 in 36.2 overs at Merv
Hughes Oval. Chapman praised opening bowlers Hamish Winter-Irving (2-24) and Jake Haberfield (2-29) for continuing their outstanding form.
“If you can knock one, two and three in the order, or two of one, two and three off quickly and get the middle order in, that’s going to make a significant difference in the game, and we’ve done that,” Chapman said.
If there was a slight on the Bulldogs bowlers, it was the concession of 26 extras, including 18 wides. Soft conditions under foot made it hard for the pacemen to grip their spikes in at the crease and there was also an inordinate amount of movement in the air.
The Bulldogs chewed up the target in a breeze; 26.4 overs to be precise. Russ, who had been in sparkling form for the Victoria second XI in futures league action during the week, was the lone dismissal for 10.
The 61-run partnership between Kight (52) and Dean (23) remained unbroken when the Dogs passed the target. Everyone was keen to see if Kight has what it takes to make the step up from No. 4 to opener, and he responded.
“With losing Wes [Robinson] back to Western Australia, we always felt that once he left Dylan would go to the top of the order.
“There was a thought at the start that perhaps Trav Dean would open the batting, but I just thought it would be too much change and we could leave Trav at three because he’s been terrific,” Chapman said.
Footscray Edgewater faces Prahran in the first two-day game of the season at a difficult Toorak Park, starting Saturday.
