DDCA: Jeevan Mendis’ big innings for Narre South against Coomoora

Two centuries including from a former international and 35 sixes were just some of the numbers in a monster DDCA T20 performance. See the full breakdown.

Narre South Cricket Club coach Matt Brooks just sat back and watched on Saturday as his Lions completed a blitzkrieg of power hitting.

The Lions top five sent the Coomoora bowlers to the fence 24 times and over it on 35 occasions, as they rocketed their way to 3-365 in the opening weekend of the Dandenong District Cricket Association T20 fixtures.

Former Sri Lankan international Jeevan Mendis blasted 116 from just 33 deliveries (six 4s, 14 6s), while his opening partner – Morteza Ali – too carved 103 from 40 balls (nine 4s and nine 6s).

Mendis was dismissed on the final ball of the 10th over, going for a perfect six sixes.

The 198-run opening stand was just the beginning, with Harsha De Silva (88no from 28) and Kyle Hardy (41no from 14) also filling their boots.

The hitting was so clean, it left the umpires searching for a new ball up t0 15 times.

Jeevan Mendis. Photo: AAP.

“Yeah … it was some incredible hitting,” Brooks said.

“Obviously Park Oval is pretty small, but in terms of the hitting it was as clean as anything, I think on most grounds a lot of them would’ve been four or six.

“Sitting back and watching it, it was quite unbelievable to be honest.

“Jeevan (Mendis) has played a lot of international cricket and is a class above, but some of the ball striking was incredible.

“When (Morteza) Ali was 70 odd, Jeevan was on 25 and then when he got out on 116, Ali was on 80.”

Narre South batsman Morteza Ali. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Between overs 5-10, the Lions faced just two dot balls and hit 117 runs with two fours and 16 sixes.

After a 1-4 start to the regular season, Brooks revealed his demands as a coach were much smaller than what he has endured so far this summer.

“There wasn’t much for me to do,” he admitted.

“It was a much easier game than what I have had (so far) this year, to be honest, there has been a few tough days.

“Warranted, Coomoora are at a different level to what we play but in saying that, posting 365 off 20 overs is a fair effort in any sort of cricket I suppose.”