Dogs' bark silences Lions' roar

Premier Grade Cricket

Round 5 v Fairfield Liverpool 10/11/18

The Bankstown Sports Bulldogs overcame the Fairfield Lions roar at Rosedale last Saturday in the Belvidere Cup. Bankstown batted first and compiled a solid 255 with a classy all-round batting display. Mitch Brown was the spearhead of the run spree with a commanding 59. Brown held the Bulldogs batting together in a defiant two hours at the crease. He is a powerful all-rounder and ensured Bankstown reached a sizeable total. English import Matt Waite lapped up the sunshine and ripped into the Lions with a crucial 56. Brendan Smith once again was amongst the runs with 35 in just 18 minutes and Daniel Solway added 33 runs to his imposing seasons total. The opener is an important cog in the Bulldogs machine and rarely fails. In reply, the Lions got off to an excellent start with a 51 run opening stand. Rhys Williams made the initial breakthrough with the help of Liam Marshall’s safe hands. The introduction of Ben Taylor to the bowling crease was a master stroke from skipper Michael Stretton. The young spinner turned the game on its head with an exceptional spell which effectively silenced the Lion’s roar. His three victims wrecked the top order and really got the Bulldogs barking. Kyle Brockley chimed in removing top scorer Uppal as well as Johns in his great spell. Taylor snuffed out any more resistance and lively Nathan McAndrew polished off the home side as the Bulldogs prevailed. Taylor captured the bowling honours with 4-44 and sure is a top prospect. Ever reliable McAndrew had the impressive figures of 3-29 whilst Brockley finished with 2-23. Rhys Williams kept the pressure on the Lions with 1-30 from his 7 overs and the skipper was most pleased with the Bankstown attack. Solway claimed two catches and Marshall held onto 3 whilst Williams snapped up a good one. Bankstown will play arch rivals Western Suburbs at Pratten Park in a two-day fixture starting next Saturday.

Second grade

Bankstown proved too good for Fairfield in the one day game at Bankstown on Saturday. The Bulldogs scored a solid 8-233 from an excellent all-round batting effort. Peter Dignam and Ethan Leten gave the Bulldogs a fine start of 89. Leten was first to go with a punishing 59 which tamed the Lions. Dignam followed straight after with a fighting 29 and another wicket made it 3-90. Chris Ridley got the Bulldogs barking again with a hard hitting 36 whilst Mitch Hinds hit two powerful sixes in his 36. Fairfield started sensationally in reply with 0-127 but the locals would not be denied. Bradley Simpson claimed two wickets and captain Tony Clark also picked up two. The pair put the brakes on the Lions to keep the Bankstown side in the game. The ball was then thrown to Chris Ridley who was the seventh bowler used. It was a master stroke from skipper Clark as Rids captured the prized wicket of top scorer Hunt for 90. That made the Lions 4-167 and the Bulldogs fight back had begun. Simpson took 2-38 and skipper Tony Clark 2-46 whilst Ridley claimed 1-8. Special mention must be made of Ryan Clark whose 10 overs cost a meagre 34 runs which pinned the Lions down.

Third grade

At Fairfield Oval the Bulldogs hammered the Lions attack and posted 4-236. In reply, the home team capitulated for just 162. Bankstown opener Mansuhk Singh continued his stellar form with a superb century. He plundered 2 spectacular sixes and 10 sparkling boundaries which kept the Bulldogs barking. He found a willing ally in Daniel Hayes who thrilled the crowd with a trio of sixes and seven majestic boundaries. In reply, the Lions started out threateningly. However, a concerted attack by the Bankstown bowlers clawed the home side back. The spearhead was Alex Schipp who took three wickets in rapid succession. Matt Smith took a wicket and chimed in with a run out whilst Dayne Heward and Wallace Marshall claimed one apiece. Daniel Slane polished off the lower order with great rapidity and the Bulldogs were home. Schipp took the bowling honours with 3-16 whilst Slane finished with 3-33. The fielding was supportive with Hayes taking three catches, Zeeshaan Ahmed 2 and Schipp 2. The team effort was appreciated by skipper Iain Ridley.

Fourth grade

The fours continued the great day for the Bulldogs with a comprehensive win over the Lions at Jensen. Bankstown scored 212 and while it was not a great score proved plenty. It was a fine all-round batting effort by the home side with nearly all batsmen contributing. Openers Harry Brett and Cameron Cotter gave the Bulldogs a flying start. Cotter was in fine form and entertained the crowd with the vast array of strokes in his 46. Harry Brett also caught the eye in a fine knock with 6 sparkling boundaries in his handy 38. Bilal Ali added a fighting 29 whilst Connor Wilkinson rounded off a solid team batting effort with 20. The Lions were never really in the hunt and capitulated for 159. Rhys Ward got the Lions on the back foot straight away with 3-32 and troubled all batsmen. Mohammad Abir Hossain claimed the crucial wicket of Bridges for 67 and that was the end of the Lions resistance. Hossain finished with the excellent figures of 3-15 whilst Niran Wijewardene was on target with 3-59.

Fifth grade

The fifths lost at Don Dawson with the Lions 8-166 just too many for Bankstown’s 146. Sanjiv Weerasingham bowled with excellent control to capture 3-41 in a great spell. Bryan Handunneththi took 3-29 and bowled a great line and length. Hayden Barrett caught the eye in a very accurate spell. The talented youngster claimed 1-8 in a great containing effort from 8 overs. Nathan Hebeston also bowled accurately to take 1-32 from his 9 overs. In the Bankstown innings skipper Alex Kouventaris won the honours with a punishing 49. Bryan Handunneththi looked good and was unconquered with 18 whilst Weerasingham completed a solid all-round performance with a defiant 24.

Poidevin Gray Shield (Under 21s)

The Brendan Smith led Bulldogs (7/173) defeated St George (8/172) in the Limited Overs format fixture at Hurstville Oval to keep their premiership hopes alive. Peter Dignam was the rock underpinning the Bulldog innings with 76 off 135 deliveries and skipper Smith played a typically attractive innings with 32 off 36 deliveries. The irrepressible Ben Le Bas was the star with the ball snaring 3/21 off 10 overs with Niran Wijewardene chiming in with 2/41 and Brad Simpson, Liam Marshall and Dayne Heward capturing a wicket each to seal victory for the visitors.