Sydney Grade: Bankstown news, Round Ten

Day 1:

The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs appear set for victory over the Campbelltown Ghosts after scoring 2-48 when chasing 157 at Raby last Saturday. Campbelltown batted first after being sent in by Kevin Roberts but succumbed to some fine bowling from Wayne Holdsworth, David Freedman and Matt Betsey. Holdsworth troubled all batsmen in a lively spell to capture 3-23 from a typically hardworking 17.5 overs and yet again was the spearhead of the attack. Betsey provided solid support with 2-43 from an accurate 18 over spell whilst wristspinner Freedman probed away successfully to snare 2-39 from 16 overs. The Ghosts could have been spirited away for a much lower total but several missed chances let them off the hook. The innings took a painstaking 307 minutes with the Bulldogs containing the home side to less than two runs per over. Bankstown got off to a reasonable start despite the loss of Vaughan Williams and Paul Maraziotis and at stumps Anthony Smith was not out 28 and allrounder Betsey unconquered on 13 with the total 2-48 from 14 overs. Williams was particularly unlucky as he played the ball down into the pitch only to watch helplessly as it spun back and toppled his timber whilst Smith was in an aggressive mood with four slashing boundaries. The 'Dogs will be looking for more quick runs when play resumes next Saturday to consolidate their high ranking position on the competition table.

Day 2:

The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs continued on their winning way with an effortless victory over the Campbelltown Ghosts last Saturday at Raby. A punishing 60 from hard hitting opening batsman Anthony Smith and a delightful 56 not out from allrounder Matt Betsey enabled Bankstown to cruise past Campbelltown's 157 and declare at 3-162. The Ghosts made a spirited revival in the second innings and at stumps had fought back to be 1-113. Smith combined solid defence with controlled aggression to compile seven well struck boundaries and dominate the Campbelltown bowlers whilst Betsey worked the ball around well on both sides of the wicket to keep the score moving along. The pair put on an entertaining 99 run partnership for the third wicket in quick time. Following the dismissal of Smith skipper Kevin Roberts put together a typically stylish 31 not out and promptly declared to give his bowlers a solid workout in trying conditions. Pacemen Wayne Holdsworth and Greg Trevena bowled with their usual enthusiasm but wristspinner David Freedman claimed the only wicket when he had Sutherland well caught by Roberts for 33. Freddie's well flighted 17 over spell returned him the most economical figures of 1-37 with 4 maidens. Fellow spinner Ken Hall also was the epitome of accuracy conceding only 26 from his 13 overs as the 'Dogs performed well to restrict the Ghosts to just above two runs an over in 200 minutes batting.

The 'Dogs travel to Manly on Australia Day for a vital clash with the runaway premiership leaders and next Saturday return to Bankstown Oval where they take on the Penrith Panthers in a two day fixture. After that Bankstown plays another two games in succession at home with local derbys against Wests and Fairfield giving Bulldog fans plenty of opportunity to enjoy the magnificent new facilities at Memorial Oval. All local cricket fans are advised that the official opening of the new pavilion and grandstand will be held at midday on Tuesday the 8th February. It will be a rare opportunity to catch up with Bankstown's favorite cricketing sons the Waugh twins who will also bring along the treasured World Cup trophy which they helped win last year in England in one of Australia's most memorable sporting fightbacks.

The seconds are also in a sound position notching 0-24 in reply to Campbelltown's painstaking 193 at Bankstown Oval last Saturday. The Ghosts crawled to 1-42 off 33 overs before lunch following some fiery bowling from Hilal Dannaoui and Grant Roden backed up by Jason Deitz's awkward away swingers. Dannaoui finished with the well deserved figures of 3-37 from 25 hostile overs with 11 maidens whilst Roden bowled with little luck to capture 2-36 from 23 with 9 maidens. Deitz chimed in with 2-31 from 15 overs whilst offspinner David Sidie also gave nothing away in his tidy 9 over spell which returned him 2-17.Bankstown's openers Danny Benson and Shane Cusick showed much more enterprise than their Campbelltown counterparts and raced to 24 from just 5 overs before play ceased.

Bankstown's seconds indulged in a run feast at Bankstown Oval last Saturday blasting 8-405 from just 66 overs in reply to Campbelltown's 193. Lefthand opening bat Danny Benson spearheaded the run spree with a dynamic 138 which included 4 giant sixes and 11 boundaries. He drove and cut the ball superbly with some brilliant straight drives rocketing to the boundary as he ripped apart the Ghosts attack. At one stage the Ghosts had looked in with a chance as Bankstown slumped to 3-49 but a quickfire 53 from Daniel Moy wrested the initiative away from them. He hit out boldly with three spectacular sixes in a dashing display and created history by becoming the first batsman to thump one on to the roof of the new pavilion. Following his departure Dean Magee celebrated his return from injury by slipping into top gear immediately. In the ten minutes before lunch he raced to 30 clipping a ball off his toes over the fence and landing a giant six onto the roof of the new grandstand. After lunch the devastation continued and Magee raced to 107 with an astonishing nine sixes and seven boundaries lifting two enormous drives out of the ground and into the canal. Not to be outdone allrounder Grant Roden blazed his way to 66 not out in just a few overs smashing no less than seven sixes and three boundaries. Much to the delight of the small crowd he produced the biggest hit of the day when he pulled a legside delivery over the grandstand and onto the other side of Chapel Road. Clintin Price chimed in with an aggressive little cameo and powered his way to 29 not out whereupon Mark Grant declared At stumps Campbelltown had reached 0-61 in their second innings with some much more subdued batting.

A fighting 50 not out from talented allrounder Darren Ettridge enabled the Bulldogs to notch 202 last Saturday against Campbelltown at Raby. In reply the Ghosts have lost 2-8 with Troy Brown and Michael Bright claiming a wicket each. However the day belonged to the enigmatic Etteridge who came in to bat at number 7 and held the brittle batting together in a defiant knock. He received good support from hard hitting veteran David Thompson who scored 26 whilst James Bourne batted solidly at the top of the order with 23.

The thirds lost to the Campbelltown Ghosts after some spirited batting held the Bulldogs at bay when they looked set for victory. There was a touch of farce about the game after an uncharacteristic spate of no balls from Bulldog paceman Troy Brown led to the discovery that the popping crease had been marked out 7.5 centimetres too short!!! Bankstown had no excuses however as at one stage they had the home side 7-105 when chasing 202 but to their credit the Ghosts sensible and disciplined batting got them home. Michael Bright was the pick of the Bankstown attack with 4-48 from 16 well flighted overs whilst the evergreen Paul Talbot bowled a very tight line and length to take 3-67 from 24 overs. Troy Brown recovered to take 2-57 after his early frustrations whilst Darren Ettridge impressed with limited opportunities beating the bat frequently in his short spell.

Allrounder Andrew Sidie came to the 'Dogs rescue with a stylish 45 last Saturday against Campbelltown at Jensen. He timed the ball sweetly in an important innings and received great support from talented Mitchell Coton who made batting look easy with a confident 35 not out which lifted the Bulldogs total to a competitive 210. At stumps Campbelltown had reached 10 without loss.

David Drew's fourths scraped home to victory at Jensen when they bundled out Campbelltown for 208 just two runs short of the required target of 210. The Bulldogs looked in all sorts of trouble until left arm speedster Nathan Bracken who is on the comeback trail after injury ripped through the Ghosts batting lineup swinging the ball deceptively and working up good pace. His devastating display of bowling gave the 'Dogs a sniff of victory and with great support from medium pacer Andrew Sidie who snared three vital wickets the 'Dogs were able to squeak home. The win keeps alive Bankstown's premiership aspiration and although a narrow one was most important.

A shoulder injury to skipper Peter Moy did not help the Bulldogs cause against Campbelltown and they did well to restrict the Ghosts to 233. Promising legspinner Brad Roberts turned the ball appreciably to capture 5-38 in an inspired 18 over spell and troubled all batsmen. Aaron Klumpp who took over the captaincy following the injury to Moy bowled with great accuracy to capture 3-48 from 22.5 overs whilst versatile Gian Scuglia chimed in with 2-67 from 15 steady overs. At stumps the Bulldogs were 0-4 in reply and will be looking for a good start next week when play resumes.

A magnificent 110 not out from Lance Brooker, who has just turned seventeen, guided the 'Dogs to a decisive victory over Campbelltown at Raby. Chasing 233 Bankstown looked in trouble at 2-24 but a matchwinning 135 run partnership between Brooker and Gian Scuglia turned the game around. Brooker savaged the Campbelltown bowlers relentlessly pounding 16 boundaries in his fighting 206 minute stay at the crease. He showed maturity beyond his years in an impressive display of intelligent batting which snuffed out any hope of a Ghosts revival. Scuglia was at his elegant best notching ten boundaries in his delightful 64 whilst skipper Peter Moy was most impressed by the disciplined attitude that the pair showed to the run chase.

(Reproduced with the kind permission of Michael Stephenson.)