1st grade

In a historic first the Grade cricket games were disrupted by the excessive heat. Despite time lost the Bankstown Sports Bulldogs braved the conditions with 5-309. The Bankstown batting star was Mitchell Hinds who plundered a magnificent 106 not out. Hind’s vigil included 12 sizzling boundaries and a towering six making sure the Dion Bourne scoreboard kept racing along at Memorial Oval. The Panthers wilted in the heat as the rampaging batsman struck with his vast array of spectacular shots. Once again Nick Carruthers was in splendid form with a devastating 93. He ripped into the Panthers from the outset as his stellar season continued. Carruthers is a great entertainer at the crease and brought the crowd to its feet with 10 brilliant boundaries, his knock taking just over 3 hours and the three towering sixes were spectacular. Daniel Nicotra is certainly making a name for himself and is a fine young talent adding to the Panthers’ woes with a sparkling 59 in a formidable 2 hour stay at the crease. Jarrad Lysaught was again amongst the runs with two sixes in his handy 29 not out.

2nd grade

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Seconds felt the major heat disruption after choosing to bat at Howell Oval. They cruised to 1-105 with Joel Brockley smashing 7 boundaries in his commanding 42 and Mansukh Singh looked set for a huge score with 47 not out but was totally thwarted by the weather. He is a fine stroke maker and seems destined for higher honours. Zeeshaan Ahmed was 15 not out when to the Bulldogs frustration play ceased for the day after just 33 overs.

3rd grade

At Kelso Park North Bankstown contained the Panthers to 8-160 in good conditions. Matthew Dedes was the chief destroyer for the Bulldogs with an incisive 4-26 having all the Panthers struggling in an inspired spell which got the Bulldogs barking. Ever reliable Koby Layton chimed in with an extremely accurate 10 overs spell in which he snared 2-27.

PGs

Bankstown lost to Penrith in the under 21 semi-final at Memorial Oval on Sunday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Panthers complied a competitive 6-219 after 50 overs. Tom Sowden was the pick of the Bulldog bowlers with 2-47.  Dayne Heward gave nothing away with 1-36 from his accurate 10 over spell. Ryan Clark also was very economical with 1-32 from his on target 9 overs spell. The only Bankstown batsman to fire was the very much in form Zeeshaan Ahmed compiling a typically stylish 50 and it was a bitter blow to the Bulldogs when he was run out. The locals never got on top of the Panthers attack and in a disappointing end to a very solid campaign, fell well short of the target with 157.

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4th grade

Bankstown capitulated for 6-62 when the weather disrupted play at Cook Park. It was Cook by name and by nature as the temperatures soared. Wicketkeeper Rahid Alam was 19 not out and is the hope of the side.

5th grade

Bankstown won the toss and batted first at Grahame Thomas after a late start due to the heat only to compile 141. Tom Ramage top scored for Bankstown with 7 boundaries in his defiant 33. Subtain Shahid added a stylish 27 whilst Manoj Weerasingham was in excellent touch with a fighting 30. In reply the Panthers were 0-22 and the Bulldogs will need to perform much better next week.