Footscray Edgewater overcame a bizarre mis-measured pitch to register a strong Premier Cricket win over St Kilda on Saturday, before falling to Melbourne on Sunday.
The Saturday game at Harry Trott Oval saw the Dogs and Saints battle it out on a pitch that was later discovered to be eight feet longer than regulation, leaving Dogs coach Steve Chapman scratching his head.
“There was a lot of guys saying the pitch was too long,” he said. “But we didn’t really believe it until we measured it after the match.
“I don’t know how it happened, but I know Jeremy Hart was ropeable with how he bowled and now it makes a bit more sense.”
With the unusual conditions, the Dogs grabbed an early Saints wicket after losing the toss and were largely able to restrict the scoring of the home side’s top order.
Only Josh Manning (94no) got away from the Dogs, but a good team bowling performance from Lucas Dredge (3-37) and Hart (3-42) kept the Saints to 197.
In reply for the Dogs, Dean Russ put together one of his finest innings with a sparkling 103 not out to guide the Dogs home with nearly three overs to spare.
Chapman said that although Russ had set high standards with his batting over the years, Saturday’s innings was something special.
“You always feel with Dean that if he gets through 15 to 20 balls, he is a good chance of posting a big score,” Chapman said.
“I told him afterwards not to under-estimate just how good that innings was. He was the biggest influence on the game and that hundred was of the highest quality.”
The win meant the Dogs returned to Merv Hughes Oval on Sunday with a perfect record and confidence high when they took on the might of Melbourne.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the game did not go quite to plan, the Dogs batted first and posted 7-191 from their 50 overs.
Russ (44) was again among the runs, while Timothy Buszard (62no) and Matthew Gudde (31) shared an important partnership through the middle of the innings.
In defending the total, the Dogs struggled for wickets against a strong Demons line-up, with just three wickets falling in the 36.1 overs bowled before rain set in.
Melbourne’s 3-140 was enough to deliver the visitors a win under Duckworth-Lewis.
Chapman ended the weekend content with splitting the two games, giving the Dogs some strong momentum early in the season.
“I think we were all pretty happy with how we performed,” he said. “Even though we lost the Melbourne game, we felt we played pretty well.
“There is lots to be pleased and enthused about early in the season.
“Plenty of lads are getting a go and contributing in one or more discipline, so if we can continue that this week we’ll be in a strong position early in the season.”
