Sport

Dogs to unleash bark

THE Bankstown Bulldogs Second and Third Grade sides will take on Sydney University in the Sydney grade cricket semi-finals.

Lucky Second, Third Grades bat way to semi-final spot

It is a minor miracle that the Seconds have progressed as they played very poorly on Saturday against the Sydney Tigers.

In dull and sometimes inclement weather at Drummoyne Oval, Bankstown capitulated for a meagre 90 and the home side cruised to 1-100. 

Despite this comprehensive defeat, washouts enabled the Doggies to progress to the semi-final.

Iain Ridley and his talented and enthusiastic group of Third Grade youngsters are in good form and scored a useful 233 against Manly by the seaside last Saturday.

Niran Wijewardene was a tower of strength in the middle order and held the brittle Bulldog batting together. He defied the fired up Manly attack with a glorious and invaluable 54 not out.

Daniel Hayes was patience personified in scoring a fighting 40 which got the Bulldogs barking. At the top of the order, Mansukh Singh was his usual reliant self with an elegant 35.

Cameron Cotter fresh from his magnificent 120 recently, chimed in with a useful 26 while Matthew Dedes added a handy 25. The lower order failed to fire and but for Wijewardene, the Bulldogs would have succumbed much more easily.

They too will take on the strong Sydney University side but providing they play to their potential, they should be very competitive.

Match venues will be announced on the club’s social media sites when available.