VTCA: Round 4 Team of the Week including several young guns

Young guns and damaging wicketkeepers headlined last weekend’s VTCA action. Here’s our Team of the Week.

It was another intriguing round of Victorian Turf Cricket Association action.

Just one man, Melton South’s Thiwanka Kekilawala, was able to reach triple figures in First XI action.

Meanwhile, the bowlers did plenty of damage with several five-fors across the competition.

Here is Leader Local Cricket’s VTCA Team of the Week.

DILRUKSHA WIJESEKARA (St Andrews Footscray)

It was a busy Saturday afternoon for Wijesekara as St Andrews came away with an important win over Laverton. The vice-captain tore through the home side’s batting order to claim 5-26 before then top scoring with 46 runs from 41 balls to guide his side to victory. What’s remarkable about his performance it was the first time he has bowled this season.

NEETEN CHOUHAN (Sunshine United)

The Tigers’ keeper produced his best performance of the season with the bat to score 71 runs from 108 balls against Druids. His innings was made more critical by the fact he lost his opening partner after just two deliveries. Chouhan was clean behind the sumpds conceding just one bye and smartly completing two run-outs.

Neeten Chouhan of Sunshine United.

THIWANKA KEKULAWALA (Melton South)

Kekulawala might just be the most in-form batsman in Division 5 after his second century of the season, this time against Barkly Street Uniting. Coming in a first drop, Kekulawala powered his way to 116 before capping off his day with the match finishing wicket as his side ran out big winners.

NILAN FERNANDO (Grand United)

Desperately unlucky not to reach triple figures as the Gorillas fell short against Caroline Springs. Fernando finished on 97 not out as his side were dismissed for 188, 16 runs short of their target. The wicketkeeper also played his part behind the stumps with the stumping of Gurpeet Suri.

SALMAN AFRIDI (Moonee Valley)

The middle order batsman found himself in everything in Moonee Valley’s Division 4 win over Williamstown Congs. He finished with 88 runs and took a catch to stamp his authority on the contest.

Mohan Fonseka. Picture: Andy Brownbill

MOHAN FONSEKA (Airport West St Christophers)

The star all-rounder did a little bit of everything in his side’s Division 1 win over Doutta Stars on Saturday. He made a patient 21 runs from 38 balls before finishing with game best figures of 3-18 — his first wickets of the season.

MAX ROUVRAY (Point Cook)

Opposition clubs and supporters around the VTCA need to start taking notice of this young man. Rouvray finished with his second five-wicket haul, 5-25, as Point Cook proved to be too good for Williamstown Imperials. In his side’s 8-207 innings, Rouvray showed off his power hitting with 31 runs from 20 balls.

AMIT NAYYAR (Sanctuary Lakes)

After missing out with the bat, scoring just 1 before he was removed LBW, Nayyar turned chief destroyed against Seabrook finishing with figures of 5-31. That was his best performance with the ball since joining the club.

BEN RADFORD (Craigieburn)

The Eagles are excited about this young man’s potential and rightfully so. Radford produced his best bowling spell in Craigieburn colours, finishing with 3-19 to lead his side to an important win over Yarraville Club. He showed off some class with the bat as well finishing on 14 not out.

DANIEL STAVRIS (Maribyrnong Park St Marys)

Stavris found himself in everything at the weekend as his side recorded a big win over Bellbridge away from home. He took his season tally to 13 wickets after claiming 5-23 in a devastating spell of bowling.

JACKSON MARTIN (Yarraville Club)

A young gun on the rise. The 13-year-old leg spinner gave us a big look to the future on the weekend after finishing with his first five-wicket haul, 5-24, in his side’s loss to Craigieburn. Such was the strength of Martin’s performance, even the opposition coach had strong praise for him.