Bulldogs struggle to finish off the Bees

Premier Grade Cricket: Round 4, 27/10/18 Bankstown v Uni of NSW Week 1 The Bankstown Sports Bulldogs bowled first at Memorial Oval and dismissed Uni of NSW for 299. The Bumble Bees were in dire straits early but the tail wagged defiantly. Rhys Williams claimed the first wicket LBW and Matthew Waite held onto a skied pull shot from lively Liam Marshall. A tumbling Daniel Solway held onto a sharp chance at first slip from the bowling of Waite, a very fine acquisition from Sussex. Nathan McAndrew toppled the timbers next with a brute of a delivery and the Bulldogs were more than happy with four wickets before lunch. In the second session, the Bulldogs were barking vociferously with a further three wickets as they looked good with the visitors at 7-138. Uni's lower order were defiant until the attack finally broke through. Liam Marshall returned the fine figures of 3-46. McAndrew, Williams and spinner Ben Taylor each took two wickets whilst skipper Michael Stretton held onto four splendid catches. In a crucial blow right at the end of the day Bankstown lost the prized wicket of Daniel Solway and at stumps were 1-1. All season Solway has been the mainstay of the Bankstown batting, but next week the rest of the batsmen will have to stand up and be counted. Second grade At David Phillips South, the Bumble Bees swarmed all over the Bulldogs amassing 324. Skipper Tony Clark led by example and probed away with excellent line and length to claim 3-25. Ethan Leten showed his versatility with 2-30 to ensure the tail did not wag any further. In reply Bankstown safely navigated the three overs to stumps with 0-8. The Bankstown batsmen have the capability to chase down this total on the small ground but will have to bat with plenty of discipline. Clark is a great skipper and has been rewarded by a spot in the over 50 Australian side. Well done, Tony. Third grade Bankstown declared at 8-246 and in reply Uni of NSW have started soundly with 0-28. Zeeshaan Ahmed held the Bulldogs batting together with a majestic 73. At Jensen, he drove and cut in a very attractive two hour stay at the crease which took the sting out of the Bees' attack. Excellent support came from Mansukh Singh who was in great touch with 55 classy runs. Cameron Cotter opened the batting with Singh and his 31 helped the partnership to add 79 giving Bankstown a great start. Wicketkeeper Ethan Debono chimed in with a well-crafted 34 which got the Dogs' tail wagging.


Fourth grade The Bumble Bees were really buzzing at David Phillips North finishing on 6-356. The Bulldogs bowlers stuck to the task admirably but the Bees certainly took the sting out of the attack. The Bankstown batsmen will be looking for similar idyllic conditions next Saturday as they attempt to chase down this daunting total. Fifth grade At Grahame Thomas Oval, the Uni of NSW batsmen went on a run spree with 8-334 declared. Bryan Handunneththi was the best of the Bulldogs bowlers and beat the bat repeatedly on his way to claiming four wickets. His incisive spell steadied the run spree just when the Bumble Bees were all abuzz. Bankstown battled their way through a tricky 7 over spell and finished with 0-9. Poidevin Gray Shield Under 21 In Sunday's Poidevin Gray game the Penrith Panthers held on to win a fighting clash at Howell Oval. The home side batted first and cobbled together 6-184 after the allotted 20 overs. Brad Simpson was the best of the Bulldogs bowlers and his four overs returned him 4-36 as he attempted to put the brakes on the run spree. ‘Keeper Cameron Middleton held onto two very smart chances whilst Liam Marshall also took a double. The Bankstown batting failed dismally and they could only muster 138 in reply. Ben Taylor top scored with 48 in a hard-hitting performance. The versatile all-rounder plundered four boundaries and two superb sixes in his valiant attempts to get the Bulldogs barking. Ryan Clark fought hard for his 30 and Daniel Hayes a determined 26 but the visitors were outgunned.