By LIAM TWOMEY
FOOTSCRAY Edgewater saved its best for last in the Victorian Premier Cricket final. The Bulldogs dominated Essendon for two and a half days before putting the Bombers out of their misery before lunch on Sunday. In arguably its strongest showing of the season, Footscray won by a staggering 359 runs, capping off a truly amazing season.
Almost everything went according to plan for the Bulldogs after they won the toss and batted first on day one.
Despite the early wicket of Anthony Barton, the Footscray batting line-up always looked in control with some big scores up for grabs.
Travis Dean showed why he is going to be pushing for selection in the Victorian state team in years to come, blasting a brilliant 138.
Dean’s knock came off 247 balls and included 18 boundaries. He also combined for a 158 run stand with wicket-keeper Dylan Kight who made 59.
In any other match, 138 would normally be enough to secure man of the match honours.
However, they were saved for middle order batsman Shanuka Dissanayaka, who was able to take Footscray from a strong position to an unbeatable one.
Dissanayaka hit an incredible 175 not out, sending the bowling attack to all parts of the Junction Oval.
His innings came off 258 balls and included 23 boundaries.
Everything was going right for Footscray with lower order batsmen Guy Walker (37), Hamish Winter-Irving (43) and Jake Haberfield (24) adding to the total.
Footscray captain Dean Russ eventually declared his side’s innings with the score at 8/526 after 157 overs.
An impossible chase on paper was made even harder by a rampaging Haberfield who took the new ball.
The gun quick dismissed Aaron Shellie just four balls into the innings.
John Hastings then got in on the act, removing Ben MacRae for six.
With Essendon at 2/14 there was more pain on the way as Haberfield returned to knock over Solomon Mire for just one.
Aaron Ayre and Shane McNamara followed soon after and with the score at 5/55, any hope of an unlikely victory was dashed.
Footscray went on to claim the final wicket with the score at 167 off 43.1 overs.
Haberfield was again the star with the ball, taking 6/58. The remaining wickets were shared by Hastings, Winter-Irving and Michael Kelly.
For Essendon, Clinton McKay top scored for the innings with 35.
The flag is Footscray’s second in the club’s history, the first since the 1979/80 season.
