By LIAM TWOMEY
A BRILLIANT bowling performance from Jake Haberfield lifted Footscray Edgewater to a nail-biting 14 run win against Prahran on Saturday.
After setting the True Blues 309 for victory on day one, Footscray found itself on the back foot as Prahran recovered from an early stumble.
From 1/0, the batting side moved along to 1/102 as Adam Bull and Steve De Bolfo combined for the triple digit partnership.
The re-introduction of Haberfield into the attack brought about the demise of the latter, as De Bolfo was bowled for 32 and Jack Taylor soon followed for a duck.
Bull remained at the crease despite the double strike and combined with James Miller for a 135-run partnership.
Seemingly cruising at 4/241, the Footscray bowlers hit back.
Haberfield again secured back-to-back wickets and this time he was joined by Travis Dean who also made a double strike.
Dean removed Bull for 163 and True Blues captain Sam Coates for 11 to leave the chase in tatters.
The remaining wickets also fell in quick succession as Footscray ended the Prahran innings at 294 in the 89th over.
Haberfield finished the match with the dominant figures of 7/82 from 27 overs.
Since joining Footscray in the off-season, the opening bowler has taken 19 wickets, the most of any Premier Cricket bowler.
He was well supported by Dean, who finished with figures of 2/23 while Hamish Winter-Irving took one wicket.
The result sees Footscray move into outright second place on the Premier Cricket ladder with a 5-1 win/loss record for the season.
The Bulldogs are just three points behind top of the table Carlton.
When round seven of the season continues this weekend, Footscray will take on 15th placed Frankston in a two-day fixture.
