Footscray’s two most experienced players guided the Bulldogs to their third win of the Victorian Premier Cricket season on Saturday.
The Bulldogs’ batting strength was again on show as they posted their third score in excess of 300 for the season.
While there were starts from the top order it was Dylan Kight and Travis Dean that were the stars of the show as the Bulldogs made 6-309 from their overs.
Dean made 107 off 90 balls, while Kight continued his good form with 79 off 83 balls.
“It was pleasing to get the win after last week,” Bulldogs coach Dale McDonald said.
“Obviously Travis and Kighty had a fantastic partnership of 160 that came at the right time.
“Trav has dropped down to five to give other guys an opportunity and those guys have taken it.
“Kight has come up one spot. It’s a good reward for effort.”
The Bulldogs top order again put runs on to give the side a platform.
They put on 65 for the first week which McDonald said they would take every week.
While the Bulldogs had a strong performance with the bat, it was a bit up and down in the bowling innings.
They ended up bowling Melbourne out for 262 in the 47th over to get the win.
McDonald said they didn’t bowl well early on and were made to pay.
“They were 1-100 at the first drinks break which was about the 17th over mark,” McDonald said.
“Jay Vine came on and bowled pretty well and took three wickets. It was good reward for his hard work.
“He started in the seconds this year having come back late from the UK [United Kingdom]. It’s been head down, bum up and he has bowled really well the last two weeks.”
Max Birthisel also took three wickets for the Bulldogs in the win.
The win moves the Bulldogs to 3-2, sitting in 10th spot but just two points of second.
McDonald admits they could be sitting a bit better at this stage of the season.
“We’ll take 3-2 but we’re not happy with it to be completely honest,” he said.
“We should have beaten Frankston [Peninsula] earlier in the year. We collapsed last week and didn’t chase down the 200 Northcote set for us.
“We will take it, but we should be 5-0.”
The Bulldogs now face Carlton in a one-dayer on Saturday.
McDonald said it would be a test against a side that has been a benchmark of the competition for a number of years.
On Sunday, the first of the T20 matches get underway with the Bulldogs facing Ringwood.
