Footscray Edgewater has claimed its first piece of first XI silverware in 33 years by winning the Victorian Premier Cricket Twenty20 title on Saturday.
The Bulldogs won all four games in the shorter format over two weekends and did so against some of the toughest limited-overs teams in the competition.
Prahran, Melbourne and Geelong – all sitting in the top six on the ladder – along with an on-the-rise Essendon were merely fodder for the rampaging Bulldogs.
Bulldog first-year coach Steve Chapman said it was a landmark day for the club.
“We needed Prahran to beat St Kilda and they bowled them out for 84 so we’re the Twenty20 champions,” he said. “The club stalwarts were cock-a-hoop about it.
“That’s what it’s about for me – there’s a lot of people not just doing a lot of work but have done a lot of work for a long time, so it’s nice for them.”
The games come hard and fast in the Premier T20 – four games spread over two days in two weekends make four wins in a row a tough ask.
The Bulldogs had a number of factors going for them, starting with impeccable captaincy from Dean Russ.
“The skipper was exceptional with his tactics on the ground and his ability to adjust to the game,” Chapman said.
A premium is put on fielding in this format and the Bulldogs were second-to-none in this regard.
Imports Sunam Gautam and Shanuka Dissanayake and fast bowler Lucas Dredge were key performers.
“I don’t think there was anybody that fielded better than us,” Chapman said. “We were pretty dynamic.”
On the second weekend, when Big Bash players filtered back to their clubs, John Hastings was the icing on the cake for the Bulldogs. He made 57 in the Bulldogs’ (5-128) hard-fought nine-run win over Melbourne (6-119) in game three at the Albert Ground.
He worked as an all-rounder in the Dogs’ (3-123) seven-wicket win over Geelong (6-122) in game four, smashing 46 not out off 38 balls, including four sixes, and taking 1-24.
“It’s a reflection of how good a cricketer he is,” Chapman said.
The Bulldogs added eight points to their premiership tally to remain second.
They will be awarded with the T20 spoils at the annual Ryder Medal night.
Celebrations will ramp up after Saturday’s one-day clash with Hawthorn-Monash University at the Merv Hughes Oval as it will be their last game before the holiday break.
