Two days have delivered two contrasting results for Footscray Edgewater in Premier Cricket’s shortest format.
The Bulldogs split their opening weekend of Twenty20 games, beating Greenvale Kangaroos by one run in a thriller at Greenvale Reserve before suffering a nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of Kingston Hawthorn at Merv Hughes Oval on Sunday.
Victory over Greenvale on Saturday came down to the wire – the last ball, in fact.
Kangaroos tailender Aaron Smilie needed two runs for the win, one run to tie, off the last ball, but was caught by Jack Sheppard off the bowling of all-rounder Hayden Butterworth.
Earlier in the day, Footscray Edgewater hit 4-134 off their 20 overs, thanks largely to a run-a-ball 49 not out from captain Dylan Kight. He hit six sixes and featured in an unbroken 82-run stand with Jakob Tidyman, who made an entertaining 45 off 28 balls, including four sixes and two fours.
With a small total to defend, consistent wickets were the key for Footscray Edgewater to keep Greenvale in check.
Ben Green was the chief destroyer with 3-21 off four, while Kight had two dismissals from the wicketkeeping position, a catch and a stumping.
While it was a joyful start to the weekend for Footscray Edgewater, the smiles would not last. The side crashed to earth a day later.
The Bulldogs could manage only 9-102 off their 20 overs – nowhere near enough to beat Kingston Hawthorn, which passed the target one down with 2.4 overs to spare.
Kight was again the top scorer for Footscray Edgewater with 21, while there were contributions from Lucas Dredge (19no), Butterworth (18) and Tim Buszard (15).
Dredge’s late dash was reaped off just nine balls and included two fours and a six, ensuring the Bulldogs reached triple figures.
Kingston Hawthorn cruised to the win on the back of 54 not out from Ben Slater.
There will be two more Twenty20 games this weekend, with Footscray Edgewater travelling to Prahran on Saturday and then hosting Casey-South Melbourne on Sunday.
Lance Jenkinson
