Premier Cricket 2018-19: Footscray beats Greenvale Kangaroos in final round

Footscray’s bowlers were in fine form on Saturday, as was wicketkeeper Dylan Kight, as the Dogs claimed a crushing Premier Cricket win over Greenvale Kangaroos.

Tallan Wright bends his back for Footscray. Picture: Josie Hayden

Footscray ended a frustrating summer on a positive note with an emphatic victory over Greenvale Kangaroos in the final round of the Premier Cricket home-and-away campaign.

The Dogs finished in 16th position on the ladder with four wins — a far cry from their semi-final appearance in 2017-18.

Defending an imposing day one score of 362, Footscray was always in control at Merv Hughes Oval as the Kangaroos crumbled to be all out for 197.

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Greenvale coach and former Footscray player Matthew Love blasted 85 from No.8 to delay the inevitable, occupying the crease for more than three hours.

“It was a good finish to the year,” Dogs captain Dylan Kight said.

‘Obviously we knew a couple of weeks prior that we couldn’t play finals, so we had to try and get something out of the year.

“We found a purpose for the game and it was good to get a win.”

Sunam Gautam batting for Greenvale Kangaroos. Picture: Josie Hayden

Footscray shared the load, with Jack Sheppard (3-15) and Hamish Winter-Irving (3-31) leading the way.

Jordan Buckingham (2-34), Tallan Wright (1-43) and Lucas Dredge (1-50) were the other wicket-takers.

“Jordan Buckingham came in with the new ball and looked right up to it and controlled the day for us early on,” Kight said.

“Hamish was good as well, so from ball one we felt as though we were in control. ‘Lovey’ was very good but there was only really a Footscray win or a draw on the line.”

Wicketkeeper Kight also collected a club record seven catches but preferred to highlight the efforts of his bowlers.

Congratulations to our skipper Dylan Kight who today took a Club record 7 catches. Fantastic effort Kighty 🔴⚪️🔵 @vicpremcricket pic.twitter.com/PieR2isGPH

— FootscrayCricketClub (@footscc) March 9, 2019

“I hate when people look at catches for ‘keepers and say ‘you’re ‘keeping well’ or ‘not ‘keeping well’ just based on that,” he said.

“It’s just more of a reflection on how we bowled all day. We just challenged them and put it in the right areas.”

Carlton and Dandenong and Essendon and Geelong will lock horns in qualifying finals this weekend, while Fitzroy Doncaster and Camberwell Magpies and St Kilda and Monash Tigers will contest elimination finals.