Tillakaratne Dilshan hits half-century on debut for Swans

Former Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan made a terrific debut for Casey South Melbourne in Premier Cricket.

Tillakaratne Dilshan reverse-sweeps for four. Picture: C M Thomas Photography

As Dandenong’s James Nanopoulos ran into bowl, not a sound could be heard at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Every eye was on the batsman, Tillakaratne Dilshan, the former Sri Lankan captain on debut for Casey South Melbourne.

Anticipation was high. Would Dilshan immediately launch into the bowling, perhaps with one of those “scoop’’ shots he often employed to send the ball flying over the keeper’s head? Or would he take his time to adjust to the slow wicket?

Or would “Nano’’, coming off an eight-wicket haul in the previous round, knock him over?

Tillakaratne Dilshan paddles a ball to fine leg. Picture: C M Thomas Photography

The delivery was on Dilshan’s leg-stump. He flicked it through mid-wicket, calling his batting partner, Ashley Chandrasinghe, through for a single.

And so he was away, the 44-year-old right-hander who cracked 16 Test and 22 ODI centuries on the international stage.

A run chase was ahead of him and the Swans after Dandenong, sent in on a soft pitch, had put up 6-182 off its 50 overs.

As it was, the chase turned into a stroll after Dilshan’s 53 off 42 balls.

The hosts achieved victory two wickets down — Dilshan and Chandrasinghe (33) — in 37.3 overs, with captain Michael Wallace (63no) and Jordie Wyatt (31no) taking them past the target and in the process earning a bonus point.

Wallace faced 60 balls and put away 9 fours.

Dilshan started his innings quietly. But after surviving a close shave when Chandrasinghe sent him back for a run and he had to dive to make his ground, he began to open up, swiping Peter Cassidy through mid-wicket for four, then cutting him for another boundary, the ball whistling to the white picket fence.

When Dandy off-spinner Suraj Randiv came into the attack, two Sri Lankan internationals became opponents in Premier Cricket.

Dilshan reverse-swept his former teammate for four.

A hook shot for six off young Dandenong paceman Braden Taueber took him to 48, and he raised his 50 the next ball with a blast over mid-wicket.

Tillakaratne Dilshan walks off after his half-century.

Dilshan was dismissed in the same over, caught on the boundary as he clipped the ball off his pads. Taueber was understandably chuffed; last season he was playing local cricket for Monbulk, and now he was bowling to a player who had been one of world cricket’s most destructive and innovative batsmen.

As he came off Dilshan modestly raised his bat in front of the pavilion. A short time later he emerged from the changerooms to buy a handful of icy-poles for his children.

A bigger-than-usual crowd had come to watch him. It included his former Sri Lankan teammate Thilan Samarawaeera, as well as 11-year-old Ashen Hettinayaka, from Officer Bullants (Dilshan, now living in Beaconsfield, has been coaching the lad for five weeks).

His innings done, Dilshan told Leader he had last played in March, 2020, in a Legends exhibition series.

“First game today, first innings, and I really enjoyed it,’’ he said.

“Good bunch of guys here, young guys. Hopefully we can go forward as a team. I want to share my experience with the upcoming cricketers. I had a chat with the chairman here (president Shaun Petrie) and he was keen for me to come and help the youngsters.’’

Dilshan had opened the bowling for the Swans with his off-spin and it was quickly apparent he was happy to help Wallace with field placings, waving his arms like a traffic cop.

He did not take a wicket, returning 0-32 off 10 overs. But, shocks of shocks, he did drop a catch, Brett Forsyth when he was on 19, a soda at point.

Forsyth went on to make 30, and as he did he passed 8000 runs in Premier Cricket.

When Nanopoulos (four) hit a Lachie Sperling half-tracker straight to Swans debutant Harrish Kannan on the boundary, the Panthers were 5-94.

But wicketkeeper Aaron Fernando, playing against his former club, and Comrey Edgeworth (35) batted sensibly for an 88-run partnership to give Dandy a handy total.

Fernando enjoyed more than a slice of luck in his 56 not out, which came off 77 balls and included 4 fours.

Sperling, with 3-29 off 10 overs, was superb with his left-arm spin, and young Ash Adihetty took the eye again with 1-25 off his 10.

Paceman Jackson Fry took 2-43 off nine, including Dandenong captain Tom Donnell LBW for 12.