Saints silence the Dogs in round 14 Victorian Premier League cricket.

St.Kilda have finished off 2012 in blazing style with a comprehensive nine wicket win over Footscray Edgewater in round  fourteen of the Victoria Premier League played at the Junction Oval. Openers Rob Quiney and Peter Handscomb had no trouble in a century partnership which enabled the Saints to reel in Footscray's total of 163 in just 24 overs.

Earlier promising spinner James Muirhead bowled his side into the box seat with 4-34 from nine overs whilst Daniel Mueller chimed in with 3-40. The Bulldogs were struggling early with both openers back in the pavillion before the score had reached fifty. When Muirhead claimed his first, that of Benjamin Green, stumped by keeper Damon Rowan, the score was four for seventy-two and hopes of a total to test the strong St.Kilda line-up were fading.

 

Travis Dean was joined by Michael Hill and the pair put on 32 to take the score to 104 when Muirhead struck again. He cleaned bowled Hill then caught and bowled Tallan Wright before removing Hamish Winter-Irving trapped in front. Dean in the meantime worked towards his half-century as his teammates fell around him.

A late flurry by tailenders Michael Kelliher and Lucas Dredge helped Dean sneak the score past 160 before Mueller and Quiney finished off the innings.Dean was unbeaten on 73 but apart from Green, 23, there was little to bark about for Footscray Edgewater.

Handscomb and Quiney then combined to take apart the Dog's attack, at times with ease. The pair put on 133 before Handscomb was clean bowled by Michael Kelly for 75. When on fifty he turned to the outer and gave the thumbs-up to friend Andy Lee from Hamish and Andy fame who was watching on. Thomas Moffatt joined Quiney and they reeled in Footscray Edgewater's score on the last ball of the twenty-fourth over.Quiney remaining unbeaten on 56 and Moffatt 24.

The Saints are now fifth on the one-day ladder with Footscray-Edgewater back in twelfth place. In the next round of one-day competition the Saints face a tough task away from home to Dandenong while Footscray Edgewater are at home to Geelong.