Round 2 / PG T20 match reports

First Grade It was a tribute to the hard-working club volunteers and Curator Warwick Starr that the match vs Sydney could be completed despite the severe drenching in the preceding couple of days at Memorial Oval. Unfortunately, it was not good news for the Bankstown Sports Bulldogs who were edged out by defending premiers Sydney. Chasing the visitors 292 the locals were dismissed for just 250 in an interesting finish. Superb stroke maker Daniel Solway kept the Bulldogs barking with a typically defiant 57. The accomplished run-getter plundered 8 boundaries which was no mean feat given the rain soaked outfield. It was a severe blow for the Bulldogs when he was adjudged LBW. Brendan Smith added a fighting 22 before he was unfortunately run out. Nick Carruthers took up the fight in his valiant effort to keep the Doggies in the game. He made sure the Dion Bourne scoreboard kept ticking over with a fighting 40 in just an hour at the crease. He also excited the crowd with 8 sparkling boundaries and is enjoying his return to the Bulldogs. Chris Ridley must be commended for his fighting effort with a determined 34 while pace bowler and potential all-rounder Kyle Brockley was at his aggressive best with two giant sixes but when he fell for 40 the Dogs were done. The two run outs proved crucial in the run-chase. For the next two Saturdays Bankstown will play arch rivals St. George at Hurstville Oval. Third grade The Iain Ridley led Third Grade side scored a very solid victory over Sydney at Jensen Oval dismissing the visitors for 231 when chasing 262. Off-spinner Matt Smith and probing Niran Wijewardene shared the bowling honours with three wickets apiece. Smith was the epitome of accuracy in his incisive 21 overs whilst Wijewardene beat the bat repeatedly in his great spell. Swing bowler Alex Schipp chimed in with two wickets in his aggressive effort. Unfortunately, due to the wet weather hampering wicket preparations, Second Grade, Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade matches were abandoned. Poidevin Gray Shield The Bulldogs under 21 representative side hosted Sydney University and Hawkesbury in a T20 Double Header at Memorial Oval on Sunday. In the first T20 match Sydney Uni got away to a good start but sustained pressure from the Bulldog bowlers curtailed the scoring through the middle overs with the visitors posting 6/117. Best for the home side was Niran Wijewardene with 2/21 while Dane Heward, Ben Le Bas, Wallace Marshall and Ryan Clark snared a wicket apiece. The Bulldog openers Brendan Smith and Peter Dignam were in red hot form and they cruised to 83 before Dignam miss-hit a full toss and was caught in the deep for 40 off 33 deliveries. Smith was in imperious form blasting 56 from 36 deliveries to steer the Dog’s to 1/119. Mansukh Singh showed he is good form adding a solid 16 not out. The Bulldogs were also too strong for Hawkesbury in the second T20 Poidevin-Gray fixture. The Hawks batted first and posted a reasonable 5-133. The Bulldog bowlers never let the visitors take control and their accuracy was to be congratulated. Cameron Middleton and Ben Le Bas combined for a run out whilst ever alert Dayne Heward also claimed one. Le Bas had a field day and was involved in four dismissals which kept the Bulldogs barking. Skipper Brendan Smith flew into the Hawks with a sensational 89 not out in an hour of devastating stroke play. He grounded the Hawks with a sizzling 13 boundaries and 3 superb sixes which delighted the crowd. He found a willing ally with Peter Dignam who was at his stylish best with an elegant 31. Dignam and Smith added 107 in their match winning opening stand while Mansukh Singh was 9 not out as the Dog’s finished with 1/136 off just 13.4 overs.