Sitting in 11th place, six points outside Victorian Premier Cricket’s top eight, was not the summer plan of defending champions Footscray Edgewater.
But the weekend showed there is fight in the old dogs yet.
The Bulldogs won’t abandon the finals chase, entering day two of their clash with Hawthorn-Monash University at the Merv Hughes Oval on Saturday in a strong position.
A glorious century from wicketkeeper-batsman Dylan Kight (120 not out) led the Bulldogs to a commanding 8-326 declared.
Openers James Crosthwaite (46) and Dean Russ (40) laid the foundations with an 84-run stand, while a late flurry from Lucas Dredge (31 not out) pushed the Bulldogs beyond 300.
In between, it was the Kight show, as he drove his first century of the summer. Kight has consistently been getting starts this season, but this was the first time he had taken the game by the scruff of the neck. It might have come just in the nick of time as his side tries valiantly to stay in the finals race.
The Hawks had no hiccups in the final three overs, going to stumps on 0-5.
In sub-district cricket, the race for spots in the north-west group finals is heating up and Williamstown wants to be part of the action.
The seventh-placed Seagulls are fighting against top side Melton, posting 242 on the back of big scores from Craig Sheedy (76) and Cameron Smith (69).
Altona’s chances of a home final took a blow with arch-rivals Werribee taking the upper hand on day one. The A’s were bowled out for just 127 and the visitors were in charge at 1-40.
Yarraville did a good containing job on Coburg, keeping them to 9-194 off 80 overs.
The Eagles, led by three wickets to Patrick Prestidge, should have no trouble saluting in import Harry Finch’s last game for the club.
In the VTCA, Yarraville Club showed its batting might to post 8-319 against Airport West-St Christophers in the senior division.
The Clubbers had four players raise their bats at the half-century mark: Justin Baker (72), Aaron Mato (63), Ben Pope (63) and Andrew Cullen (52).
