Bulldogs sink star-studded Sharks

In an amazing turnaround, the Bulldogs beat the Sharks on Sunday even more convincingly than the Sharks defeated them on Saturday. The difference was that Sunday was the quarter final of the One Day limited overs competition. Also, Sutherland was boosted on Sunday by former Test Star Shane Watson and Big Bash supremo Ben Dwarshuis. Bankstown batted first on Sunday and that man Daniel Solway continued his amazing run of success with a blistering 125 not out. He once again stole the limelight as he plundered 11 fours and two giant sixes and methodically tore apart the Sharks attack. Solway unleashed powerful drives and superb leg glances as he raced to his century and beyond. Sutherland wilted under his onslaught and he received plenty of support from Jake Cormack who hammered 78 and played all the shots with unbridled enthusiasm. Chris Ridley was not afraid to loft the ball in his forceful knock. However, he fell when he holed out for 29 off the bowling of super star Shane Watson. Brendan Smith added a useful 27 to round off a great team effort The Bankstown total of 5-296 was formidable but the strengthened Sharks outfit fancied their chances. An Aaron Bird-led pace blitz crushed Sutherland with Bird using all his cunning and clever changes of pace to snuff out the visitor’s chances. His 4-42 really got the Bulldogs barking and he never let the Sharks off the hook. His protégé Rhys Williams controlled his pace and accuracy conceding just 16 runs from 8 excellent overs. Kyle Brockley took 2-25 and bowled with great enthusiasm. Talented left arm spinner Ben Taylor delivered the knockout blow with 3-29 as the Sharks floundered to be all out for 137. It was a great effort from Bankstown and the side now progresses to the semi-final. On Saturday, the Bankstown Sports Bulldogs crashed to defeat against the Sutherland Sharks at Memorial. Chasing 281 the normally reliable Bankstown batting line-up collapsed to be dismissed for a humble 147. Ethan Leten chanced his arm and scored an entertaining 34 with 7 boundaries. Leten pounded the mid-on boundary with some ferocious lofted drives. Jake Cormack hammered five boundaries in his fighting 29. Champion all-rounder Nathan McAndrew defied the Sharks bowlers and held on determinedly for 30. Next Saturday and Sunday Bankstown will take on Manly at Memorial Oval in a crucial fixture commencing at 10.30a.m. Second grade

Bankstown’s 5-316 and 3-75 was far too many for the Sharks who struggled to 207 and 180. Punishing Joel Brockley was the Bulldogs batting star with a superb 130 which contained 19 sparkling boundaries and 2 sensational sixes. Cameron Middleton was in fine form with 12 boundaries in his 89 which was at a run a ball. Wallace Marshall ripped into the Sharks with 5-44 in their second innings and beat the bat repeatedly. Ever reliable Tushaar Garg claimed 2-31 in his tidy spell. Bankstown knocked off the required runs for an outright win and surged to 3-75. Joel Brockley continued his stunning form with 36 not out including 4 boundaries and 2 huge sixes off just 26 balls. Matt Simpson continued to plague bowlers and scored 27 not out to wrap up the 10 points. Third grade Iain Ridley’s team had a convincing outright win over Sutherland last Saturday at Jensen. The Sharks scored just 159 with Alex Schipp taking 3-29 and Daniel Slane 4-42. In reply the Bulldogs cruised to 251 and victory. Peter Dignam and Connor Wilkinson gave the Bulldogs a flying with a 65-run opening stand. Dignam was at his elegant best with a classy 33 and he rattled the pickets 7 times. Wilkinson was in great touch with shots all-round the wicket. He plundered six boundaries and a giant six in a dashing display of controlled hitting for 41. Jacob Malcolm chimed in with a stylish 34 and was run out just when he looked set for a big score. The skipper smashed 9 boundaries in his delightful 56 and certainly led by example. David Lozinski added a handy 21 which completed the run spree. Sutherland fared even worse in the second innings and were bundled out for 124. Slane and Schipp once again made short work of the Sutherland batsmen. Alex Schipp fired down another sensational spell and thoroughly deserved his magnificent figures of 5-34. Daniel Slane attacked from the outset and beat the bat regularly to take 4-29 in a fine effort. Bankstown scored 2-36 to finish with outright victory and 10 useful premiership points. Fourth grade Bankstown’s 5-181 was too much for the Sharks who scored 169 and 7-108. Dependable Mansukh Singh top scored for the Bulldogs with a classy 47. He produced all the shots to take control of the game. Ever reliable Mat Kelly gave Bankstown a great start with an accomplished 37 whilst Ryan Malcolm sunk the sharks with a powerful 38. Jackson Isakka completed the run feast with a fine 29. Chris Stefanish once again hooked the Sharks with 4-31 to follow his first innings haul of 5-43 for match figures of 9-74. Jackson Isakka again bowled well to take 2-38. Fifth grade Bankstown dismissed the Sharks for a humble 72 at Grahame Thomas and in reply scored 133. Brendan Clark was in sensational form for the Dogs with an excellent 56. He totally shut down any attempts at a Sharks revival to post victory. Sutherland improved in the second innings and closed at 7-212. Blake Pearson once again beat the bat often to claim 3-55 whilst skipper Alex Kouventaris was in the action as usual with 3-52. Bankstown clinched outright victory by scoring 5-153. Brendan Clark again compiled another majestic 56 and kept the visitors floundering. The skipper was delighted with the ten points and his important contribution of a dashing 49.