There was a lot to like about Footscray Edgewater on Saturday, but it ultimately counted for nought.
The Bulldogs went down by 34 runs to Northcote in a Premier Cricket cracker at the Merv Hughes Oval, tumbling out of the top eight in the process.
Footscray Edgewater was facing a hefty one-day total of 9-255 to chase.
Even amid the glut of runs conceded, the Bulldogs could be pleased with the bowling group on a stifling hot day. But they were downright thrilled with the performance of new ball operator Hamish Winter-Irving.
Winter-Irving beat the heat to take 5-39 off a maximum 10 overs in his best bowling figures of the summer.
Lucas Dredge, the Bulldogs’ leading wicket taker this season, took 2-57, which brought up his 20th wicket. However, no Bulldog bowlers could contain Northcote captain Steven Taylor, who made 87 off 117 balls. Taylor had good help from opener Solomon Mire (64) and Josh Sundberg (50).
If you said before the run chase that Footscray Edgewater star Dean Russ was going to make 108 at better than a run a ball, you almost would have taken the victory to the bank.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Russ was largely a one-man band with the bat.
A number of others got starts, but could not go on, including next best scorers Matthew Underwood and Dredge, who both made 23.
With four straight losses, Footscray Edgewater needs to find a way out of its current slump.
And it must start with the two-day game away to Essendon at Windy Hill, beginning on Saturday.
… Lance Jenkinson
