DDCA Turf 1: Hallam Kalora Park’s Jordan Hammond wins Alan Wookey Medal

Jordan Hammond has followed after his uncle Richard and won the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s most coveted player award.

Alan Wookey with Hallam Kalora Park all-rounder Jordan Hammond. Pic: Peter Barnes.

Almost 30 years after his uncle Richard topped the count, Jordan Hammond has won the Alan Wookey Medal as the best and fairest Turf 1 player in the Dandenong District Cricket Association.

The Hallam Kalora Park captain and all-rounder polled 39 votes to defeat Springvale South’s Blade Baxter on 31.

Buckley Ridges’ Sri Lankan international Mahela Udawatte was third with 27 votes and Narre South captain Kyle Hardy fourth with 25.

Berwick captain James Wilcock came in fifth with 23 votes.

Hammond, a right-arm paceman and right-hand batsman, finished the home-and-away season strongly, cracking 66 not out and taking 3-27 off 11 overs against North Dandenong.

Jordan Hammond with DDCA president Mick Hawking, himself a Wookey Medal winner. Pic: Peter Barnes

It gave him season tallies of 323 runs at 46.1 and 26 wickets at 12.3.

Hammond – who played First XI cricket during a one-season stint with Casey South Melbourne three years ago – captained the Hawks to last season’s premiership but they missed the top four this season, making way for Narre South.

Richard Hammond is coach of Hallam Kalora Park, which figures prominently on the roll-call of Wookey Medal recipients.

Wayne Ewin won it in 1986-87, DDCA president Mick Hawking in 1991-92, Richard Hammond and Gordon King (Coomoora) in 1992-93, Gavin Fewkes in 1996-97 and Steve Chapman in 2001-02 and again in 2004-05.

Richard Hammond, one of the DDCA’s great all-rounders, said of his nephew: “The kid is a star at DDCA level. Genuine all-rounder, opens the bowling, bats in the top four.

“He hits the ball harder and cleaner than anyone I’ve seen before. Will dominate for a few years to come.’’

Jordan’s father, Johnny, was a superb batsman for the Hawks, and he has Jordan covered with the bat, Richard Hammond quipped.

Narre South’s Kaushalya Weeraratne hits to cover against St Mary’s. He had to retire hurt on 26. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Meanwhile Cranbourne’s Peter Sweeney collected the Charles Gartside Medal as the best and fairest player in Turf 2.

The former Dandenong Premier cricketer hit 474 runs at 79 and snaffled 24 wickets at 9.5 with his left-arm orthodox, including a bag of 6-22 against.

Sweeney jagged 55 votes to win from Parkfield’s Matt Goodier (41) and Keysborough’s Christo Otto (33).

HSD’s Triyan De Silva was fourth with 26.

Cranbourne took the minor premiership in Turf 2 and Sweeney will be at the heart of its efforts to win the flag and return to the DDCA’s top division.

Peter Sweeney after winning the Gartside Medal. Pic: Peter Barnes

Meanwhile Narre South (7-203) stitched up third place on the Turf 1 ladder after thrashing St Mary’s (88) at Carroll Reserve.

The Lions jumped ahead of Springvale South, which had a draw with Berwick and dropped to fourth after heavy overnight rain prevented play at Harold Rd.

The Bloods rolled up their sleeves for a mopping-up operation, to no avail.

Berwick finished second and will meet minor premier Buckley Ridges in the second semi-final, with the winner going straight into the decider and the loser dropping into the preliminary final.

Narre South and Springvale South will meet in the first semi-final at Strathaird Reserve, but the Lions may have to go in without star Kaushalya Weeraratne, who retired hurt on 26 against St Mary’s, apparently injuring his hamstring.

St Mary’s keeper Jamie Fox watches on as Narre South’s Bradley Parker drives down the ground. Picture: Valeriu Campan