Rain-affected Dogs playing tough

First Grade

The weather was the winner on the weekend with very few games going the full distance. Blacktown won the toss and invited the Bulldogs to bat. This came as no surprise as rain had been around especially on Friday. The Bankstown Sports Bulldogs battled hard to reach 4-66 before the rains came. The innings featured an excellent fighting knock from belligerent Bulldog Nick Carruthers. The defiant run-getter handled the awkward conditions with aplomb and finished with an unconquered 34. He hammered five classy boundaries and prevented the Warriors from making further inroads. English batsmen Matt Waite must have felt at home in the conditions but was dismissed for 23 just before play ceased for the day. It will be interesting to see when play resumes next Saturday how the Bulldogs press on for victory.

Second Grade

The high-flying seconds are in fine fettle versus Blacktown at Memorial. When play ceased for the day the Warriors were wobbling at 7-100. The Bulldogs three-pronged pace attack ripped into the visitors with Wallace Marshall the spearhead. He worked up some hostile place and troubled all batsmen with 3-32 from 9 lively overs. Dayne Heward kept the pressure on with 2-22 in his fine spell and ever reliable Tony Clark was right on target with 2-18 from his 12

Fourth Grade

After a sterling effort by curator Nick Mamolis to get a soggy Jensen Oval prepared, Fourth Grade are in a very good position at 5/196 in the match against Blacktown. The top order of Harry Brett (8), Brendan Clark (3) and Connor Wilkinson (4) got the worst of the very humid conditions but skipper Jehan Bilimoria and the consistent Niran Wijewardene got the innings back on track with a 47 run fourth wicket partnership before Wijewardene was out caught for 37 off 29 deliveries. Batting at number 6 Ali Bilal strode to the crease full of confidence and his innings of 68 off 62 balls definitely turned the match momentum in the Bulldogs favour. His 93-run partnership with Bilimoria was a highlight for the home side and when late afternoon storms halted play the Bulldogs were in good shape with Bilimoria on 51 not out and Ryan Malcolm 11 not out.