MPCA: Sorrento spinner requests move to Rye
There has been a significant player transfer request in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association, with Sub District club Rye set to pick up one of the best spinners in the competition.
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There has been a significant player transfer request in the MPCA, with Sorrento spinner Ravi Palleguruge applying to join neighboring club Rye.
Palleguruge, with 76 first-class games, played a leading role in Sorrento’s Provincial premiership last season, taking 26 wickets at 21.54, including a match-winning 3-44 off 24 overs against Peninsula Old Boys in a semi-final.
But six months on he wants to join the Rye, which finished on the bottom of the MPCA Sub District ladder last season.
“Out of the blue we were contacted by Ravi,’’ Rye official Jarrod Saw said.
“He contacted us and asked us what’s the go, can he jump ship and come across to us.
“You don’t get a bloke like that who picks the phone up and rings you out of the blue. We’ve jumped all over it and away we’ve gone.’’
Saw said Palleguruge is a Level 2 coach who became familiar with Rye last season while watching the combined Rye-Sorrento under 16 side which won the premiership.
“He spent quite a bit of time with that team watching on a Friday night and watching our club go about it,’’ Saw said.
Saw said Palleguruge’s addition was a massive boost for the Demons, who have battled since winning the 2009-10 District premiership.
“We’re ecstatic,’’ Saw said.
“He’s going to be really good for us. That on top of keeping everybody else that came across last year…we think we’re in a reasonable position to tackle this year.’’
The Rye resurgence began when it appointed club favourite Brett Matthews as coach and opening batsman Jordan Blades as captain.
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