DDCA: Michael Davies, Jordan Hammond among the top performers

The stars of the Dandenong District Cricket Association have been putting on a show so far this season. Here’s our top 20 performers.

After a delayed start to the summer, and the adjustment to a one-day fixture, the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s biggest stars have wasted no time in making an immediate impact.

With the season beginning to take shape, Leader Local Cricket has taken a dive into the 20 best Turf 1 performers so far this season.

Leigh Booth (Hallam Kalora Park)

The experienced all-rounder’s start to the season is a contributing factor as to why the Hawks are currently in second place on the ladder. Booth has sent a batter packing in five of his six games and has made two scores above 45.

Ciaron Connolly (Hallam Kalora Park)

The Hawks’ wicketkeeper currently leads the competition for dismissals and has contributed with starts in each of his three innings with the bat.

Buckley Ridges’ Michael Davies. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Michael Davies (Buckley Ridges)

The Bucks stalwart has played just four matches this season but has taken a wicket in all but one, including a remarkable spell of 6-20 against St Mary’s.

Ramneet Dhindsa (North Dandenong)

The former Kingston Hawthorn bat has made a good start to his Turf 1 career with 184 runs at an average of 36.8. Dhindsa has notched just one half-century but has passed 40 on three occasions.

Sushant Gupta (North Dandenong)

The Maroons are poised inside the Turf 1 top four and Gupta’s consistency with the ball is a part of why. He bowls difficult overs and tends to succeed under pressure-cooker scenarios.

Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park)

The reigning Wookey Medallist began his season in sizzling touch with the bat before rounding out the calendar year in style with the ball. Hammond’s 2022-23 batting average of 93 compliments his average of 20.4 with the ball nicely.

Hadigallage Jayaratne (Buckley Ridges)

Jayaratne has been a brilliant find for the Bucks this season with regular contributions with both bat and ball. He has claimed a wicket in each of his matches, with a best of 3-16 and steered his side to victory with a score of 68 against Hallam Kalora Park. The Sri Lankan international also outclassed batters in the competition‘s T20’s, claiming 2-2 against Turf 3 side Coomoora.

Sachith Jayasingha. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Sachith Jayasingha (Hallam Kalora Park)

The mystery spinner not only leads the competition with 16 wickets but leads second-best by an impressive six scalps. He has claimed two five-wicket hauls in just six matches, including a stupendous spell of 5-6.

Yoshan Kumara (Springvale South)

Kumara has made an immediate impact upon his return to Alex Nelson Reserve with eight wickets to date. He burst back onto the Turf 1 scene with 5-17 in the opening match and has relentlessly challenged top-order batters since.

Damith Mapa Ralalage (Berwick)

In a sign of his consistency, Mapa Ralalage is yet to fall under double figures with the bat this summer. The right-hander’s only fifty this season was in the opening round but has posted two other scores above 30 since.

Jeevan Mendis (Narre South)

Mendis entered the mid-season break with 211 runs and 10 wickets in just four matches. The star all-rounder has passed 50 on two occasions for the conversion of one century. The bulk of his work came in a round 6 demolition of the Parkmore Pirates, where he chalked up 116 and 6-27.

Raveen Nanayakkara (St Mary’s)

It has been slimmer pickings for Nanayakkara since his opening round century, but as just one of three players to have reached the sought-after milestone in 2022-23, he is a top performer.

Ryan Quirk batting for Springvale South. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ryan Quirk (Springvale South)

With 294 runs in five hits, Quirk could very well be leading the coveted Wookey Medal at the midway point of the season. The Bloods’ skipper has reached 46 or more in all but one of his innings to date for the return of two fifties and one century.

Mohomad Safras (Parkmore Pirates)

The opening bat is proving very difficult for opposition bowlers to dismiss, recording five scores between 22 and 49 in each of his five hits. Despite the outstanding dependability, Safras could very well have been leading the competition for runs at the midway point of the season if it wasn’t for a tendency to get out once getting in.

Jackson Sketcher (Springvale South)

In addition to his regular contributions with the bat, Sketcher has provided a solid option for the reigning premiers with the ball in 2022-23. He has claimed at least one wicket in each of his four matches, and multiple wickets in three. The talented sportsman averages 39.5 with the bat and 14.7 with the ball this summer.

Jarryd Straker (Springvale South)

Despite sitting second in the competition for wickets, Straker’s impressive start to the season has been linked to his innate ability to contain opposition batters. The Bloods’ spinner has bowled 12 maidens so far this season and has leaked on average just 2.38 runs per over.

Dulan Waduge (Parkmore Pirates)

Has failed to reach double figures just once this summer for a return of 198 runs. Waduge passed fifty in both of his first two hits, finding unfortunate ways to leave him short of a century.

Berwick bowler James Wilcock. Picture: Valeriu Campan

James Wilcock (Berwick)

The former Bears skipper has claimed eight wickets in four matches, with three sets of multiple scalps.

Ben Wright (Buckley Ridges)

The Englishman has 135 runs at an average of 45 in the Turf 1 competition and is still yet to fire to his full potential in the one-day format. Wright demonstrated what his best is capable of in the competition‘s T20 fixtures last Saturday with 219 runs in two hits.

Jordan Wyatt (Springvale South)

The dasher rounded out his calendar year with three half centuries on the bounce. Despite having 209 runs at an average of 52.25, it’s the way in which Wyatt scores his runs that upsets opposition attacks the most, striking the ball at 134.80 so far this summer.