Cricket Southern Bayside: Mordialloc picks up first-class batsman
It’s been a busy off-season for Mordi as they gear up for their return to the Cricket Southern Bayside Championship.
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Two of Mordialloc’s young premiership players are set to try their hand at Premier Cricket next season.
But the Bloodhounds have recruited a star from the Box Hill Reporter District association, as well as a former Sri Lankan Under 19 representative, as they prepare to resume in the Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Division.
Mordi have signed Chamindru Mathra, who has put up good numbers for Blackburn South and then East Burwood in the Box Hill competition.
His run aggregate of 667 at 66.70 in 2016-17 included an unbeaten 203 for Blackburn South, as well as another century.
In 2019-20 he hit 629 runs for East Burwood, and last season he came in with 370 at 26.42 for a side that reached the grand final.
The right-hand batsman and handy off-spin bowler played 14 first-class matches in Sri Lanka.
The Bloodhounds have also snared AK Tyrone, who has spent the past three seasons at Garfield Tynong. Like Mathra, he’s a batsman and offie.
Playing in Division 2 of the Warragul association in 2018-19 he plundered 1088 runs at 98.91 – with five centuries – and took 31 wickets.
He was less successful in Division 1 the following season.
Tyrone scored a century against India As a Sri Lankan Under 19 player.
Mordialloc has also received a commitment from a player with First XI experience in Premier Cricket, which is the destination of young players Brendan Morris and Lucca Parkinson.
Opening batsman Morris is expected to play at Frankston Peninsula and right-arm fast-medium bowler Parkinson at Dandenong.
Morris made more than 400 runs last season and left-armer Parkinson took 16 wickets.
Both were also part of the grand final side that edged out Mentone in the grand final of Division 1 last season.
And club great Aaron Martello said both were good prospects.
“Brendan’s a very solid batsman and he’s got a good head on his shoulders,’’ he said.
“Lucca’s certainly got some talent too. He’s only young, 19, so he might take a while to develop. But there’s some ability there.’’
From the premiership team, Mordialloc will also lose Finn Callaghan and Liam Bence, who has moved to Queensland.
Callaghan is a good young batsman, but he’s also one of the country’s best Under 18 footballers and is tipped to go in the top 10 at the AFL national draft.
Martello said the club would look to promote more young players from the seconds, who also made the grand final.
Martello and fellow Mordi veterans Leon Kennedy and Tim Richardson played in a side with six players under the age of 17.
Corey and Jordan Barden, Dan Frencham and Luke Smith are considered bright prospects.
David Sime coached Mordi last season but has departed the club. The Bloodhounds are looking for a replacement.
Champion wicketkeeper-batsman Damith Mapa Ralalage will again captain the First XI.
“He’s the best keeper I’ve seen at Mordialloc, and the best I’ve seen in the comp,’’ Martello said. “Ripper fellow, too.’’
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