After claiming a wicket on his penultimate over, then another to start his last, the Wagga RSL skipper then took advantage of an ideal chance to snare the milestone by dismissing Wagga City's no.11 Louis Grigg caught and bowled.

The Bulldogs were buoyant after reducing the Cats from 2-106 to all out for 144, but poor top order batting and rain combined to ensure their run chase fell short.

"To be honest I'd rather not get the hat-trick and win the game," Perry said.

Leg spinner, Perry, who finished with 4-40 off 9.2 overs bowled Zac Lewis for the first wicket of his hat-trick, before Luke Naumann was caught at first slip for his second.

Fate was in his own hands to seal the deal.

"He (Grigg) spooned it back to me but I had to dive for it and and I didn't think I was going to get there, but thankfully I did," he said.

"I copped a bit from the boys (dismissing the tail enders) but at the end of the day you've still got to get the wickets.

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"We bowled them out and we were excited about doing that. But we knew the job still had to be done and unfortunately we couldn't do it."

The top six producing more runs has been a key focus of the Bulldogs' pre-season, which made their inability to chase the target hard to swallow.

They were reduced to 4-26 early and when rain arrived, required 40 runs off just over four overs before being dismissed for 83.

"It was very disappointing. All pre season we put the emphasis on scoring runs and starting strong, but unfortunately we couldn't do it.

"But it's round one and the top order can only move upwards. It was tough conditions, drizzling and raining but we still should have been better."

The Bulldogs host St Michaels in round two at Wagga Cricket Ground on Saturday.

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