FOOTSCRAY Edgewater made a horrendous start to the new year with a five-wicket loss to Geelong in the Victorian Premier Cricket one-day game at Merv Hughes Oval on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs were optimistic about their chances of building a competitive total after winning the toss and electing to bat, but even the best-laid plans can go awry and that was the case for the tri-colours, bowled out for a mediocre 72 in just 24.2 overs.
Arun Harinath, batting in the middle order, at least offered some resistance with a gritty 16 off 54 balls, while youngster Guy Walker added 10 off 21 from No.9.
While the Bulldogs fought hard to pick up five Cats wickets, defending such a small total was a forlorn task. Tallan Wright was the only multiple wicket-taker with two.
The Bulldogs will make the trek out to Ringwood for a two-day game starting on Saturday.
On a more positive note, the Bulldogs’ seconds and thirds recorded wins to stay in the finals hunt.
Greg Sheehan made a scintillating return to the crease by guiding the seconds to victory with an unbeaten 119.
Nathan Beever was the headline act for the Bulldogs thirds, scoring 83 before being run out.
Firsts: Geelong 5-73 d Footscray Edgewater 72
Seconds: Footscray Edgewater 7-234 (Sheehan 119no) d Geelong 165
Thirds: Footscray Edgewater 8-223 (Beever 83 Mahoney 49) d Geelong 181 (J King 4-33)
Fourths: Geelong 7-218 d Footscray Edgewater 9-217 (Eyiam-Rutty 72 Vipond 59)
