By Nick Creely
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
2019/20 SEASON PREVIEW – TURF 2 AND 3
TURF 2
BEACONSFIELD
President: Steve Keam
Coach: Nathan Goodes
Captain: Jack Benbow
Last Season: Turf 3 runners-up
Most Runs: Matt Golding 597 at 49.75, 50s: 3, 100s: 2, HS: 113*
Most Wickets: Matt Golding 36 at 9.89, BB: 7/41, ECN: 2.67 (tied with) Callan Tout 36 @ 10.78, BB: 5/13, ECN: 2.38
Ins: Achintha Rajapakse (St Mary’s), Brad Miles, Jason Dodd, Ryan O’Connor (Devon Meadows), Wyll Stanway (overseas), Michael Dunstan (Narre North), Lachlan Chugg (Berwick Springs)
Outs: Matt Golding
First Match: vs Dandenong West at Perc Allison Oval, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Tigers have made the jump up from Turf 3 after finishing as runners-up, but expect Jack Benbow’s side to make a real splash, despite losing star all-rounder Matt Golding, who is expected back next season. A range of recruits, as well as having plenty of depth on its list, should see the Tigers around the mark for finals.
CRANBOURNE
President: Chris Lamb
Coach: Sandun Dias
Captain: Sandun Dias
Last Season: 5th
Most Runs: Lucas Ligt 347 at 28.92, 50s: 2, 100s: 1, HS: 103*
Most Wickets: Jordan Margenberg 24 at 13.67, BB: 4/25, ECN: 3.25
Ins: Sandun Dias (overseas)
Outs: Lucas Ligt (Devon Meadows), Martin Blackman (retired)
First Match: vs Narre Warren at Sweeney Reserve, Narre Warren, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Eagles struggled through the first half of last season, before motoring home to finish just outside the finals. Losing Lucas Ligt does hurt the batting stocks, but the Eagles have plenty of young talent, and just enough experience, to once again be around that mark. It’ll be interesting to see how new captain-coach Sandun Dias fares in his first year at the club.
DANDENONG WEST
President: Jack Wind
Coach: Hari Krishan
Captain: Hari Krishan
Last Season: Last – 8th
Most Runs: Thushira Madanayaka 269 at 19.21, 50s: 0, 100s: 0, HS: 48
Most Wickets: Peter Atkinson 24 at 20.58, BB: 5/47, ECN: 3.60
Ins: Heshan Perera, Mathara Achchige
Outs: Nil
First Match: vs Beaconsfield at Perc Allison Oval, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Westers have been fairly quiet during the off-season, adding just a couple of recruits, and will again look to push through some youngsters. Captain-coach Hari Krishan is a class cricketer, but the Westers may be another year or two off from challenging for finals.
DINGLEY
President: Casey Caldera
Coach: Damien Jordan
Captain: Damien Jordan
Last Season: Semi finalists
Most Runs: Matt Hague 715 at 51.07, 50s: 6, 100s: 1, HS: 179
Most Wickets: Christo Otto 24 at 18.00, BB: 6/46, ECN: 2.61 (tied with) Calvin Barlow 24 at 18.46, BB: 6/25, ECN: 3.53
Ins: Mohammad Safras(Sri Lanka), Milan Rathnayaka (Sri Lanka), Ryan Holloway (UK)
Outs: Dinuk Hettiarchichi
First Match: vs Lyndale at Dingley Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Dingoes loom as a team to beat, with Damien Jordan’s side managing to hold onto its core first XI group and add in a few handy overseas recruits. Having star Matt Hague going around once again is a massive boost, and one that should ensure the Dingoes are right in the thick of the premiership race.
LYNDALE
President: Ben Montgomery
Coach: N/A
Captain: Ben Montgomery
Last Season: Turf 3 premiers
Most Runs: Priyan De Silva 400 @ 23.53, 50s: 2, 100s: 0, HS: 64
Most Wickets: Yohan Soyza 30 @ 11.47, BB: 4/8, ECN: 2.03
Ins: Keith Ash (returning), Shahar Ali (overseas), Bailey Thompson (Noble Park)
Outs: Himesh Don (Silverton)
First Match: vs Dingley at Dingley Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
Expect the reigning Turf 3 premiers to be a bit of a handful, with very little loss of players and a couple of really handy recruits. Despite finishing third on the table, Lyndale’s finals series was outstanding, something that will ensure they jump up a grade full of confidence, and ready to surprise a few.
NARRE NORTH (**the Journal is still chasing further details for the season preview)
President: Adrian Osborne
Coach: N/A
Captain: Steve Ryan
Last Season: Runners-up
Most Runs: Kyle Hardy 615 at 47.31, 50s: 5, 100s: 0, HS: 92
Most Wickets: Ryan Hendy 25 at 26.92, BB: 4/60, ECN: 3.15
Ins: N/A
Outs: Brandon Tyzzer (Narre Warren), Michael Dunstan (Beaconsfield), Joel Zietsman, Kyle Hardy, Matthew Brooks (Narre South)
First Match: vs Parkmore Pirates at Frederick Wachter Reserve, October 5
How far can they go?
NARRE WARREN
President: Ricky Jones
Coach: Shane Simpson
Captain: Janaka Guneratne
Last Season: Semi finalists
Most Runs: Dilusha Nanayakkara 396 at 30.46, 50s: 3, 100s: 0, HS: 83
Most Wickets: Janaka Liyanabadalge 28 at 12.64, BB: 6/51, ECN: 3.06
Ins: Nuwan Sampath (overseas), Waruna Mayantha (overseas), Brandon Tyzzer (Narre North)
Outs: Imran Laghmani (Narre South), Dilusha Nanayakkara, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Srimantha Fernando (all not playing)
First Match: vs Cranbourne at Sweeney Reserve, Narre Warren, October 5
How far can they go?
The Magpies are once again going to be a strong side, and should be right up there if all goes to plan. They have lost a bit of quality in Imran Laghmani and Dilusha Nanayakkara in particular, but the Magpies have enough class on its list to cover the losses, with the addition of handy names such as Brandon Tyzzer. A side to keep an eye on.
PARKMORE PIRATES
President: Gavin Lehmann
Coach: Anurudda Fonseka
Captain: Anurudda Fonseka
Last Season: 6th
Most Runs: Amal Athulathmudali 418 @ 38, 50s: 2, 100s: 0, HS: 64
Most Wickets: Amal Athulathmudali 24 @ 23.88, BB: 5/20, ECN: 3.20
Ins: Jack Hogarth (overseas)
Outs: Nil
First Match: Narre North at Frederick Wachter Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
It would be hard to see the Pirates not right up there again in the finals mix. The Pirates played some terrific cricket last season, but some untimely losses cost them a chance to break into the top four at seasons end. Jack Hogarth is a massive inclusion and adds so much class with the ball, and with very little movement out of the list, the Pirates look steady on paper.
TURF 3
BERWICK SPRINGS
President: Grant Hillman
Coach: Peter Ferguson
Captain: Josh Amsterdam
Last Season: Turf 4 runners-up
Most Runs: Archit Vora 389 at 55.57, 50s: 1, 100s: 1, HS: 102
Most Wickets: Josh Mackenzie 32 at 15.09, BB: 4/29, ECN: 3.40
Ins: Stephen Brooks (Narre North)
Outs: Ben DeKoning
First Match: vs Keysborough at Berwick Springs Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Springs could be a bit of a handful this year after being promoted from Turf 4 into a higher grade, but there is some class sides around them that they need to encounter. Stephen Brooks is a solid in for the side, and there is an abundance of youth and experience that should ensure they’re competitive first and foremost. Finals may be another year or so off, but this side could surprise a few.
COOMOORA
President: Daniel Caughey
Coach: Rahoul Pankhania
Captain: Rahoul Pankhania
Last Season: 6th
Most Runs: Rahoul Pankhania 409 at 45.44, 50s: 4, 100s: 1, HS: 103*
Most Wickets: Malan Madusanka 35 at 8.54, BB: 7/29, ECN: 2.61
Ins: Paul Hill (Noble Park), Liam Hard (returning)
Outs: Malan Madusanka
First Match: vs Fountain Gate at Coomoora Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Kangaroos struggled at times last year, but showed enough to suggest that a swift turn around is possible. The club welcomes back Liam Hard and has brought in Paul Hill from Noble Park, but Malan Madusanka is a massive loss, with his 35 wickets at 8.54 last year absolutely extraordinary. If all goes well, the Kangaroos can push for a top-four spot, but need a big start.
FOUNTAIN GATE
President: Michael Kelaart
Coach: Dave Lucas
Captain: Dave Lucas
Last Season: 5th
Most Runs: Stephen White 269 at 24.45, 50s: 3, 100s: 0, HS: 64
Most Wickets: Rodni Kumara 35 at 13.43, BB: 5/25, ECN: 2.45
Ins: Rob Witt (Mountain Gate), Caleb Millman (Doveton), Dale Jose (Doveton), Cam Riley (AYC Harlequins)
Outs: Nil
First Match: vs Coomoora at Coomoora Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
Watch out for the Gaters in 2019/20. Having re-signed the majority of their list, and picked up some quality players, the club is one to keep an eye on this season. Just missed out on finals last year but played some excellent cricket, some added experience and depth, combined with their already established core should mean that they can take another step.
KEYSBOROUGH
President: Daniel McConville
Coach: Stephen Hennigan
Captain: Jackson O’Brien
Last Season: Semi finalists
Most Runs: Jackson O’Brien 342 @ 26.31, 50s: 2, 100s: 0, HS: 95
Most Wickets: Hennadige Fernando 26 @ 14.73 BB: 5/43, ECN: 2.06
Ins: Kyle Murdoch (Dingley)
Outs:
First Match: Berwick Springs @ Berwick Springs Reserve, October 5
How far can they go?
Another side that is expected to feature heavily in this season’s finals series after an impressive year in 2018/19 and very little movement. Keysborough are a stable group, and have just added one recruit in Kyle Murdoch from Dingley, and a new skipper in Jackson O’Brien for this year – who is a quality batsman who will only get better – so they will be a tough side to come up against.
LYNBROOK
President: Kevin Clare
Coach: Chris Jarrett
Captain: Jesse Walia
Last Season: Last – 8th
Most Runs: Jay Walia 247 @ 16.47, 50s: 1, 100s: 0, HS: 55
Most Wickets: Jesse Walia 34 @ 14.50, BB: 6/42, ECN: 2.75
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
First Match: vs Parkfield at Parkfield Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
The Lakers are expected to once again be a youthful and emerging side, but will once again be looking for steady improvement with plenty of talent through the grades. There is some terrific senior cricketers still in the side, and if they can continue to lead from the front, the Lakers will be a side that could develop rapidly.
PARKFIELD
President: David Swierzbiolek
Coach: David Payne
Captain: Steve Cannon
Last Season: Semi finalists
Most Runs: Travis D’souza 364 at 22.75 50s: 2, 100s: 0, HS: 68
Most Wickets: Travis D’souza 25 at 12.96, BB: 3/29, ECN: 2.63
Ins: Yasas Athapaththu (Moorabbin), Anthony Stubbs (Returning)
Outs: Nil
First Match: vs Lynbrook at Parkfield Reserve, 5 October
How far can they go?
It’s hard to see the Bears not being in the finals mix, and have added a few recruits while retaining the bulk of their first XI. Made a semi-final last year, but there’s no doubting this side has the capability to go one step further and announce themselves as the team to beat.
SILVERTON
President: Cameron Waddell
Coach: Simon Beshara
Captain: Simon Beshara
Last Season: 7th
Most Runs: Luke Rhodes 197 at 15.15, 50s: 1, 100s: 0, HS: 61
Most Wickets: Michael Klonaridis 25 at 21.92, BB: 6/52, ECN: 4.12
Ins: Hayden McLennan (Ormond), Harrison Rees (Mt Waverley), Dilum Weerarathne, Dilip Tharaka (overseas), Ben McCarthy, Jesse McCarthy (Marcellin OC), Himesh Gimhan (Lyndale), Jibin Thomas (National), Pram Rodrigo (Bayswater)
Outs: Michael Klonaridis, Michael Ashman, Tom Davis (Noble Park), Michael DeKauwe, (Springvale), Alex Kerr (McKinnon)
First Match: vs Springvale at Fotheringham Reserve, Fotheringham, 5 October
How far can they go?
What a recruiting frenzy from Silverton. The Bakers have made another big splash in the off-season, bringing in a heap of new recruits while also losing its fair share, but expect this side to be one that could significantly climb, and even play finals. The club is well coached, have an excellent standing within the local community, and continue to show signs that they’re emerging into a Turf 3 side that could do some damage.
SPRINGVALE
Coach: Scott Lindsay
Captain: Scott Lindsay
Last Season: Turf 4 premiers
Most Runs: Nasrat Malikzada 486 at 34.71, 50s: 2, 100s: 1, HS: 118
Most Wickets: Sachintha Rajapakse 35 at 7.89, BB: 8/25, ECN: 1.71
Ins: Michael De Kauwe (Silverton), Nuwan Mendis (overseas)
Outs: Hasindu Waduge
First Match: vs Silverton at Fotheringham Reserve, Fotheringham, 5 October
How far can they go?
Probably hard to read, but Springvale are another side that won’t just be looking to make up the numbers after coming up from Turf 4 as the premiers. Two very, very solid recruits have them in a strong spot, and if the likes of Nasrat Malikzada, recruit Michael De Kauwe and Sachintha Rajapakse can have big seasons, look out.
