Footscray Edgewater is back at mid-pack in Victorian Premier Cricket after consecutive losses during a challenging five-game block of one-dayers at the start of its premiership defence.
The Bulldogs came away from their limited overs fixtures with a 3-2 record and will enter the two-day phase of matches outside the top eight.
The reigning champions suffered a close three-wicket loss to Carlton in the country round at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs posted a competitive 6-208 off their 50 overs with captain Dean Russ raising the bat for 110 not out.
Russ is starting to move into first gear for the Dogs, with 223 runs from his past three innings.
The Victorian second XI opener made 831 runs at 46 last season and could be in line for even higher honours this summer. But he didn’t get much assistance from his teammates, with wicketkeeper Dylan Kight the next highest scorer with 39, among a number of uncapitalised starts.
The Bulldogs bowlers got the early breakthroughs they desired.
Hamish Winter-Irving (3-32) and Jake Haberfield (2-58) struck to have the Blues in trouble at 4-80.
But Carlton steadied in the middle order, with veteran Nathan Pilon (67) steering it towards the victory, and Lachlan McKenna (35) and Jayden Bord (35no) bringing it home with seven balls to spare in a well-timed run chase.
The Bulldogs hit the road for a two-day clash with Camberwell Magpies, who are also 3-2, over the next two Saturdays.
