Footscray Edgewater had to work for every single run on Saturday as it batted through the day against Fitzroy Doncaster in Premier Cricket.
With the Victorian side enjoying a weekend off, the Dogs welcomed back Bushrangers opener Travis Dean, while the Lions had Australian star Glen Maxwell in their side to set up an intriguing contest. On an overcast day, it was tough work for the home batsmen as the Dogs posted 233 all out at stumps.
Dean opened the batting with Matthew Underwood and together they saw off the new ball as they built a 50-run partnership, but it took them nearly 20 overs to do so as the Lions bowled in consistently good areas.
Underwood (23) and Dean (23) both fell in quick succession when Matthew Bullen (3-42) was introduced to the attack, and the innings began to look wobbly when Dean Russ (8) and Hayden Butterworth (13) were both dismissed cheaply by Maxwell (3-38).
Dogs captain Dylan Kight steadied the ship for the remainder of the innings as he shared important partnerships with the lower order to slowly build a defendable score.
Kight compiled 64 in 160 balls and more than three hours at the crease to ensure his side would bat out the day. His two-hour stand with Jack Sheppard (35) was particularly important for the home side.
Former first-class player Trent Lawford was a trojan for the visitors, sending down 27 overs (15 of them maidens) for the day as the Bulldogs were dismissed in the shadows of stumps.
Both Dean and Maxwell are likely to be selected for Victoria in the next round of Sheffield Shield, which would see both players absent from the second day of the Premier Cricket clash.
In the seconds, Footscray Edgewater was on the wrong end of a Noah Korkolis onslaught as Fitzroy Doncaster compiled 298 in their clash at Schramms Reserve.
Korkolis blasted 165 off 184 balls, while Alex Hewet was brilliant for the Dogs with 6-52 off 28.5 overs, his victims including six of the Lions’ top seven batsmen.
The Dogs, with 10 overs to negotiate late in the day, lost two wickets as they closed the day on 2-31 in their chase.
