Dogs set new record to stand strong / PGs win

Premier Grade Cricket Publicity Report

Round Three Week One 2019/20

19th October 2019

A magnificent century from all-rounder Nathan McAndrew ensured the Bankstown Sports Bulldogs were in a solid position at 9/295 against Northern District at Mark Taylor Oval.

After winning the toss Bulldogs skipper Daniel Solway elected to bat but the visitors were unable to take full advantage of the conditions slumping to 3/52 with Solway (11), Nick Carruthers (7) and Jake Fawcett (7) back in the sheds. Peter Dignam rode out this difficult period, but when adjudged LBW for a patient 21 off 126 deliveries, the visitors were in trouble at 4/77 and needing someone to stand up and rescue the innings.

Enter Nathan McAndrew and Ben Taylor who produced a record breaking 5th wicket partnership of 189 to take the Bulldogs to 5/266 before McAndrew became the second of Tom Felton’s LBW victims, dismissed for a magnificent 109 off 153 balls including 16 fours.

McAndrew and Taylor now hold the Club’s First Grade 5th Wicket Partnership Record surpassing the score of 177 set by in 2015 against Blacktown by Philip Wells and Michael Stretton.

McAndrew was recently selected for the NSW Marsh Cup Limited Overs side and just last week was re-contracted as a member of the Sydney Thunder 2019/20 Big Bash squad. It’s testimony to his character that this committed Bulldog works just as hard for his grade club as he does at representative level. Equally impressive was 21-year-old Ben Taylor’s innings of 90 off 180 balls including 10 fours and three sixes. Taylor, who hails from the ACT, is in his third season with the Dogs and is a very popular Clubman. Good judges have long rated Taylor as an outstanding prospect, highlighted by his selection for the Prime Minister’s XI side in 2015 while still a Year 11 student. His classy effort under pressure on Saturday suggests he has the potential to play representative levels as an all-rounder, not just a left arm orthodox spinner.

Endeavouring to push the scoring rate along the Bulldogs lost Jarred Lysaught (4) Ben Le Bas (0) and 1st grade debutant wicket-keeper Cameron Middleton (2) cheaply leaving young pace duo Liam Marshall (1) and Brad Simpson (2) not out at stumps. The Bulldogs will be hoping the Marshall and Simpson can weave some magic will the ball in hand next Saturday!

Poidevin Gray T20 Sunday 20th October 2019

After winning the toss Bankstown sent the opposition in to bat and Western Suburbs compiled a healthy 8/201 off their 60 overs in the Round 2 Poidevin Gray Shield Under 21 match at Pratten Park.

Bulldog paceman Dayne Heward was a standout with the ball snaring 3/27 off his 10 overs. Brad Simpson worked tirelessly with the new ball, returning the fine figures of 2/31, especially impressive as he bowled at the get go with fielding restrictions in play. Justin Felsch grabbed 2/66 while Ryan Clark was very economical, returning 0/27 from his 10 over spell to put a stop on the Magpies’ progress in the middle overs.

The Bulldogs run chase was a bit wobbly early with skipper Peter Dignam and his opening partner Cam Cotter out for 5 and 9 respectively but a quickfire 35 from Zeeshaan Ahmed took the score to 3/65 with Mansukh Singh playing a terrific anchor role. When Cameron Middleton joined Singh, the match turned decisively in the Bulldogs favour as he smashed 65 from 51 balls, a strike rate of 122. Middleton was inducted with First Grade Cap Number 298 on Saturday joining the star-studded list of players to represent Bankstown in the top grade since 1952. This confident innings further highlights his potential to develop as a keeper-batsman. Singh was very solid with 38 off 64 balls while Matt Simpson continued his successful return to grade cricket with 43 off 35 balls as the Bulldogs reached 5/202 to remain undefeated after two rounds.

Second Grade

Tony Clark’s Second Grade toiled hard at Kelso Park North to have Northern District 8/231 in an evenly poised match.

Early breakthroughs by Clark and Matt Bursa gave the locals momentum but the NDs middle order produced a series of solid partnerships to blunt the Bulldog’s attack. The match quickly turned into a test of patience and determination and it was no surprise that the stalwart Clark led the way with 3/18 off 14 overs of controlled medium pace bowling. Matt Bursa was lively at times taking 2/22 off 17 overs while Tushaar Garg (1/48 off 19), Dayne Heward (1/26 off 13) Dan Nicotra (1/39 off 11) and Ryan Clark (0/65 off 22) all provided valuable support on an afternoon that posed plenty of questions for this talented but relatively inexperienced group of Bulldogs.

Third Grade

The Matt Dedes led Third Grade posted 296 at Asquith Oval and Northern District is 0/19 in reply. Cam Cotter (30) and Justin Felsch (46) got the Bulldog’s innings off to a solid start with a 59-run partnership. Experienced skippers Dedes (24) and Jehan Bilimoria (21) got good starts but were both disappointed not to convert them into big scores. At 5/155 the Bulldogs innings needed a boost and Alex Kouventaris was the player to put his hand up with a stirring 77 (116 balls). Kouventaris received great support from 17-year-old wicketkeeper Ethan Debono who showed his potential as a genuine keeper-batsman with a whirlwind 52 not out off just 41 balls to help the visitors to a competitive total.

Fourth Grade

A stirring 98 from Skipper Mat Kelly, scored at more than a run per ball was the highlight of Bankstown’s 243 against Northern District at Grahame Thomas Oval. With a strike rate of 102 it was a pity Kelly fell just short of his century but his innings has left the home side in with a solid chance of securing first innings points. Another huge plus for the Bulldogs was the form of last season’s AW Green Shield Captain Blake Pearson who hammered 53 off 65 balls. Sixteen-year-old Pearson was a member of the NSW CHS side that toured the UK during the off-season and it’s pleasing that his potential as a high calibre player of the future is showing up in his results. Wicket-keeper Rahid Alam also played a useful cameo innings of 24 to steady the tail end. In reply ND’s were 3/58 at stumps with Pearson (2/12 off 6 overs) and Kelly (1/9 off 3 overs) also taking the limelight with ball in hand.

Fifth grade

Rounding off a superb day for Bankstown’s batsmen Subtain Shahid scored a great 134 off 167 balls against Northern District at Storey Park. Batting at number three, Shahid entered the fray with the Bulldog’s in strife at 1/19 and when he departed at the loss of the fifth wicket, the visitors were certainly looking much healthier at 5/258. Not to be outdone, 17-year-old Sanjiv Weerasingham was a late call-up for the side and showed that he intends to become a regular scoring an impressive 83 off 97 deliveries. A new player in the Bulldog camp, the hard-working Lachlan Johnson was another to send a message to the selectors with a solid 44 not out (51 balls) as the Rob Lenard led Bulldogs finished with a massive total of 345.