Footscray Edgewater and Camberwell Magpies are locked in a tight battle after day one of their Premier Cricket clash at the Camberwell Sports Ground.
Set 271 for victory, the Bulldogs were 1-24 at stumps, with in-form batsmen James Crosthwaite (11) and Travis Dean (10) surviving the late overs following the departure of captain Dean Russ for one.
PICTURE GALLERY: Footscray Edgewater v Camberwell Magpies
The task would have been a whole lot bigger for the Dogs’ batsmen had it not been for the six-wicket haul to speedster Jake Haberfield.
Haberfield finished with 6-58 off 24.4 overs, offering a reminder of why he was the best bowler in the competition last summer.
Dean chipped in with 2-32, while Tallan Wright and Lucas Dredge were the other wicket-takers.
The Bulldogs require 247 with nine wickets in hand to avoid a third consecutive loss.
In the VSDCA, Matthew Love made his second unbeaten century in as many games to lift Yarraville to a commanding 82-run win over Balwyn at Balwyn Park on Saturday. Love’s sterling 131 not out at No.4
saw his side motor along to 6-223 off just 36 overs.
Harry Finch was the perfect batting partner, turning over the strike to the in-form player and simply enjoying a front-row seat with 38 in a 135-run fourth-wicket stand.
Yarraville’s change bowlers did the trick, with Love and Tim McRae both snaring three wickets apiece as Balwyn perished for just 141.
The Eagles are sitting pretty in the top four after three matches.
It was a day of frustration for the Williamstown (2-55) and Altona players, who could manage only 16.3 overs before the match was abandoned by the umpires due to the conditions. The sides will share the points.
In the VTCA senior division, Yarraville Club is in a strong position after day one against St Bernard’s Old Collegians.
The Clubbers were set an even 200 and had already picked off 1-73 by the close of play.
Emmett Bronca was star of the show with the ball for the Clubbers, snaring 6-63 off 15.5 overs.
Konrad Kurta will resume on 41 not out with night watchman Bronca when play resumes on Saturday.
In north division, Spotswood will be out for redemption on the second day against Keilor after losing on first innings in disappointing fashion.
Aside from 58 to first drop Matt Leddin, the Woodsmen were horrible with the bat, all out for 112 in 31.3 overs.
Their bowlers, led by Andrew Dickinson (4-34), mounted a fightback to roll Keilor for 140 and keep an outright result alive.
Altona North’s (2-16) clash with PEGS (176) is in the balance heading into the second day.
