Nick Oldridge was rock-solid for Footscray Edgewater in his second innings on the weekend. 78689 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
FOOTSCRAY Edgewater’s Second XI side has been knocked out of the Premier Cricket finals race after going down to Dandenong in an entertaining contest at Merv Hughes Oval on the weekend.
Dandenong advanced to the semi-final with a three-wicket outright win over the Bulldogs.
Footscray Edgewater will rue its first innings batting performance, in which the side was dismissed for just 104. Greg Sheehan was his side’s top scorer in the first innings with 46.
Dandenong won first innings points, but Lucas Dredge ensured Footscray Edgewater was still in with a fighting chance, taking five wickets and helping to keep Dandenong’s lead to only 27.
James Freeman was also handy with the ball, taking three wickets.
The Bulldogs had to score runs quick if they were to reverse the result, and that’s exactly what they did, declaring on 4/215 after scoring at more than one a ball.
Nick Oldridge slammed 83 from 79 deliveries, Peter Herrick hit 46 off 43, and Jackson Knight smashed 40 from 24 balls to put the home side in a winning position.
Footscray Edgewater’s bowlers looked like guiding the side to a stunning victory after having Dandenong at 5/62, but Jack Worrell (49) and Trent Cody (42) put on an 89-run partnership taking up valuable time.
By the time Dredge dismissed Worrell, time was almost up, and Dandenong finished up on 7/160 to set up a semi-final clash against Geelong.
