Dayne Heward was welcomed to First Grade by coach Gary Crowfoot who handed him cap number 303 and Bankstown declared at their overnight total of 8-329.
The visitors got off to a very good start against the strong Bulldogs’ pace attack but when left arm spinner Ben Taylor was bought on, he had instant success.
After the interval, the visitors continued to defy the Doggies who strived valiantly for another breakthrough which eventually came when Ben Taylor enticed a nick behind from Thunder youngster Baxter Holt to keeper Matt Simpson and the score was 3-138. At 4-175 the home side looked a chance, but the next wicket did not fall before the Dolphins had sunk the Bulldogs.
Zeeshaan Ahmed claimed a useful catch in the deep but the visitors amassed 5-330 and claimed the six points. Next Saturday, the Campbelltown-Camden Ghosts come to Memorial for a two-day fixture where the Bulldogs will be hoping to rejoin the winner’s circle.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs scored a moral boosting win over Blacktown and now lead the Thunder Division of the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup.
The home side batted first but were restricted to 8-127 with Sydney Thunder and Bulldogs all-rounder Nathan McAndrew, the chief destroyer with 3-22. The Bulldogs sorely missed ‘Macca’ on Saturday as he was unable to bowl due to an elbow injury. The lanky paceman showed his true Bulldog Club spirit to get onto the park on Sunday despite nursing the niggling injury.
Aaron Bird (2/18), Ben Taylor (2/17) and Brad Simpson were also among the wickets.
In reply, the Bulldogs lost star openers Nick Carruthers and Daniel Solway for nine and seven respectively and when rising star Zeeshaan Ahmed was caught for 17, the ‘Dogs were in trouble at 3-38. However, Nathan McAndrew showed his fighting qualities once again with a solid 27 off 23 deliveries and along with the in-form Jake Cormack (26 not out) and the reliable Daniel Nicotra (32), the Dogs reached 5-131 with seven balls to spare.
