Struggle against the Stags
Premier Grade Cricket Round 7
30th November 2019
Gordon and Bankstown are in a titanic struggle at Chatswood with the game delicately poised. The Bankstown Sports Bulldogs did not bat well and were rolled for a disappointing 218. Nick Carruthers held the innings together with a defiant 70. He plundered 8 sizzling boundaries and 3 superb sixes which brought the crowd to its feet amid rapturous applause. Consistently the classy opener has got the Dogs away to a flyer and recently has accumulated 42, 45, 46, 70 and 107. Alas he did not receive much support from the rest of the batsmen and the side finished with a disappointing total. The exception was allrounder Jarred Lysaught who pounded six boundaries in his defiant 34. He fought very hard to get the Bulldogs barking and is a useful stroke maker. Ben Le Bas also chimed in with 23 valuable runs and once again showed his all-round talent. In reply the Stags started confidently but Matt Bursa claimed 2-14 and Tushaar Garg 1-21 to spearhead a Bankstown fight back. At stumps Gordon were 3-72 and Bankstown will be looking for early wickets when play resumes on Saturday. It is a critical battle between the two sides as only four points separates them on the ladder. Bankstown are equal third whilst Gordon are in ninth position but the Stags recent form is good. They started the season slowly but have won the last three games and are definite Belvidere Cup Premiership contenders.
Kingsgrove Sport T20 Cup
On Sunday Bankstown prevailed in the Twenty 20 Cup at Merrylands when they plundered 6-207 in reply to the Eels 8-206. Mitch Brown bowled exceedingly well for the Bulldogs with 3-26 in another incisive spell. Ben Taylor claimed 2-61 whilst former NSW paceman Aaron Bird also took two in his lively stint. It was a daunting task for Bankstown to chase 206 off 20 overs but ‘that man’ Carruthers hammered 107 to get the Bulldogs off to a flyer. The dashing left hander batted for just over an hour and amazed the crowd with 14 delightful boundaries and 5 towering sixes. It was a spectacular effort from the crowd-pleasing opener and one which will live long in the memory. Nathan McAndrew added a quickfire 28 whilst Mark Stoneman was run out for a brisk 26. Daniel Nicotra added a valuable 20 while Joel Brockley showed nerves of steel to execute a stunning ‘ramp shot’ for a boundary to secure victory off the final ball. The Bulldogs will play the Thunder Conference semi-final against Northern District at Memorial Oval next Sunday 8th December at 2.30pm. Gates will open at 12.30pm, entry is free and there will be special giveaways for any youngsters who come down to cheer the Bulldogs on.
Second Grade
The seconds are in another tense struggle after dismissing the Stags for 212 and replying with 3-69. The game is similar to the top grade although there is a role reversal with the Bulldogs chasing. Dayne Heward ripped through the Stags top order in a fiery spell. Skipper Tony Clark made the initial breakthrough with the help of lively keeper Matt Simpson. Heward had all the Stags batsmen back-pedalling and success soon came. He shattered the stumps of the other opener then combined again with Simpson who snared a stunning legside catch displaying great acrobatics. Clark took a useful snare and then paceman Heward did it all himself with a handy caught and bowled. The speedster returned to wind up the innings and finished with impressive figures of 5-56. The Bulldogs are renowned for their pace bowlers going right back to Thomson and Pascoe. Wayne Holdsworth and Aaron Bird performed well at the first-class level and Thommo took all ten wickets in one innings for the Bulldogs. His famous quote was you can’t coach pace!! Heward has a bouncer that is lethal and he uses his height and strength to terrorise batsmen. The skipper took 2-22 from 12 economical overs whilst Justin Felsch was accuracy personified with 2-19. Felsch gave nothing away with his dozen overs comprising 8 maidens in an impressive spell. At stumps the Bulldogs were 3-69 and it is shaping up to be yet another close one.
Third grade
Gordon scored just 188 at Grahame Thomas last Saturday. In reply the Bulldogs are barking vociferously with 1-54. The Bankstown spearhead was Blake Pearson who claimed 5-63 in a magnificent 14 overs spell. He was too quick for the stunned Stags and beat the bat repeatedly with some explosive thunderbolts. Koby Layton hammered home the advantage with 3-35 from a deadly accurate 20 overs which kept up the pressure on the visitors. Jehan Bilimoria bowled at a lively pace to finish with 2-40 in his tidy spell. For the Doggies batsmen Cameron Cotter led the way with a smart 34.
Fourth grade
Bankstown bowled very well to dismiss the Stags for a meagre 115. However, in reply the Gordon side struck back with 7-43. Bulldogs speedster Brady Polkingthorne crashed through the bewildered Stags like a knife through butter. He had the exemplary figures of 7-35 from 15.3 explosive overs as Gordon capitulated. He received great support from Nathan Hebeston who claimed 3-37 in his wonderful 16 overs spell. It is good to see James Bourne helping out as the fourth-grade captain. His affable nature and shrewd cricket brain are just what the Bulldogs need.
Fifth grade
Bankstown batted first at Beauchamp Oval and battled hard to finish with 9-195. Ethan Prideaux once again got off to a good start with a solid 23. Anthony Raina plundered four boundaries in his powerful 28 then it was left to the tail to build up the score. The team’s top partnership was the last which has added a much needed unfinished 43 runs. Of that Prashanthan Sivaprasathan was in great touch with 28 valuable runs whilst James Cheetham compiled 15 not out. Liam Hewitt contributed a fighting 23 and at least now the Bulldogs bowlers have a reasonable target to defend.