By LIAM TWOMEY
FOOTSCRAY Edgewater suffered just its third loss of the Victorian Premier Cricket season on Saturday.
The Bulldogs fell to Northcote by 162 runs at Bill Lawry Oval.
After winning the toss and batting on day one, Northcote blasted 9/313 thanks to a brilliant century from Ben Abbatangelo and a hard fought 75 from Steven Taylor.
Reeling in the total was always going to be hard work for the Bulldogs and the run chase got off to a horror start.
Footscray lost its captain and gun opening batsman Dean Russ for just six, with the score at 1/13.
Anthony Barton and Travis Dean tried to steady the ship and were able to combine for a 36-run partnership before more wickets began to fall.
Barton and Dean were both dismissed with the score at 1/49 and Shanuka Dissanayaka followed just four runs later.
The collapse wasn’t finished though with Footscray’s chances of reaching the total all but over when Michael Hill was also dismissed for just six.
With the score at 5/62, the Bulldogs’ lower order tried its best to build partnerships with Mitchell Winter-Irving (27), Jake Haberfield (24) and Hamish Winter-Irving (17) digging in at the crease.
However, the pressure proved too great and Footscray’s innings eventually came to a close with the score at 151 in the 54th over.
Liam Scammell was the best of the Northcote bowlers, taking 5/33 while Marcus Stoinis and Chas Keogh finished with two wickets each.
The result had Footscray relinquish top spot on the ladder to St Kilda.
The Bulldogs are now in second and will take on 13th placed Dandenong this weekend.
