Dogs belt, bowl way to stylish victory over foe

He was just one of the stars for Bankstown, which included the ‘Lad from Lancashire’ George Bell, who helped belt the Bulldogs home.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat in the two-day Saturday/Sunday match at Bankstown Memorial Oval, Captain Daniel Solway had to rely on Bell to ensure they posted a defendable total.
Bell joined the kennel this summer from Lancashire and comes with a pedigree having represented England in Under 19s as well as being a regular in Lancashire’s red and white ball sides.
He top scored for the Dogs and looked like he would go to register his maiden Bulldog ton – but it was not to be. Scoring a well-deserved 82 as an opener, Bell showed the kind of smart and measured batting of which he is capable as he sent the ball to the boundary fence eight times with deft glances and beautiful drives.
He was well supported by Zeeshaan Ahmed with 42 and bowler Liam Marshall with 35, who is becoming somewhat of a genuine all-rounder as he scores runs consistently. The Dogs reached 235 before being bowled out. Blacktown then batted and had lost a wicket by the end of the day’s play.
On Sunday, despite inroads by pace duo Brad Simpson and Liam Marshall, the result was very much in the balance until Layton took to the crease.
A product of the Bankstown District Cricket Association, he turned the ball prodigiously and combined this with great accuracy, clean-bowling or trapping LBW three of his victims.
The other three wickets were caught when batsmen tried to dominate him.
Blacktown was all out for just 115.