Dogs edge out Hawks in thriller
Premier Grade Cricket – Round 11 v Hawkesbury
Saturday 26th January 2019
Premier First Grade
In an absolute thriller Bankstown edged out the Hawks at Owen Earle last Saturday. The Doggies fought hard to compile 8-274 and then restrict the home side to 9-270 from the allocated 50 overs. As usual it was that man Daniel Solway who got the Bulldogs barking with a majestic 62. His stellar season continues and he really is the scourge of the Belvidere Cup bowlers. His stay at the crease lasted just over two hours and he laid the platform for the competitive score. He has hammered 667 runs to date and once again unleashed his vast array of strokes to thwart the bowlers. Matt Waite kept the scoreboard ticking over with 49 in a most entertaining hour at the crease. However, the day belonged to all-rounder Mitch Brown who followed his great knock of last week with a magnificent 104 as the Hawks took flight. Brown plundered 7 boundaries and two stunning sixes in a most exciting three hour stay at the crease giving the Bankstown bowlers plenty of runs to defend with 274. In reply, The Hawks started steadily and looked good things at 2-167 but the Bulldog bowlers rallied to stem the run flow. All-rounder Matthew Waite and young spinner Ryan Cark both suffered effects of the severe heat and were only able to bowl a few overs between them. Ironically it was run machine Solway who proved the surprise packet with 2-15 from 4.1 crafty overs. Brown followed his terrific ton with 1-25 from 5 accurate overs. Rhys Williams was his usual hostile self and claimed 2-55. Brad Simpson celebrated his promotion to the top grade by shattering the stumps of the Hawks opener. Although wicket less spinner Ben Taylor put in a match winning performance conceding just 38 runs from 10 superbly accurate overs. Next weekend Bankstown will host Randwick-Petersham in a two-day fixture starting at 10.30 Saturday and Sunday. It was hoped Australian opener David Warner would be in action against the Bankstown Bulldogs but he underwent surgery on an injured elbow last week. All are welcome with free admission and excellent canteen facilities available.
Second Grade
The seconds had a much more comfortable win scoring 1-181 in reply to the Hawks humble 9-178. The very versatile Ben Le Bas was the Bulldogs bowling star with 3-35 in his inspired 10 over spell while Daniel Slane conceded just 26 from his 10 very accurate overs. Evergreen skipper the wily Tony Clark claimed 2-40 to further hammer home the Bulldogs dominance. The humble target proved little trouble to Bankstown mainly due to a wonderful 102 not out from in form Zeeshaan Ahmed. He carved up the flightless Hawks with eight sizzling boundaries and four massive sixes. Ahmed is having a great season and really is Mr. Consistency. Peter Dignam continues his fine form and formed an ideal partnership with the rampaging opener. Dignam, whilst not as flamboyant as Ahmed, has a very sound technique and hammers the wayward deliveries with a touch of class. His 70 not out made sure the Bulldogs got home easily.
Third grade
A terrific 101 from the hard-hitting Joel Brockley helped the Bulldogs fly into the Hawks last Saturday. Bankstown scored 8-260 and Brockley plundered 12 forceful boundaries and 2 crowd pleasing sixes. The Hawks never recovered from this onslaught and capitulated meekly. Bilal Ali added to their woes with a punishing 54 in just 84 entertaining minutes at the crease. Chris Stefanish played a delightful little cameo with a stylish 25