VSDCA: Endeavour Hills climbs to second on north-east section ladder

So long a battler, the Hills have emerged as a contender after Akshay Ballal and Chris Pereira starred in two outstanding wins on the weekend.

Akshay Ballal has been in rare form since arriving at Endeavour Hills.

Endeavour Hills might be feeling a bit giddy.

Never before in home-and-away rounds has it climbed this high.

Wins on Saturday and Sunday in the north-east section have lifted the Hills to second on the ladder, their highest place since they joined the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association in 1998-99.

President Arun Rajendran said it was an exciting time for the club, which ahead of the season secured a package of high-profile recruits headed by former Sri Lankan champion Tillakaratne Dilshan.

In the early rounds it even had a three-match cameo from Sri Lankan vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne, who made two Test centuries in 2021.

Before Christmas the Hills also announced they had agreed to terms with veteran West Indies paceman Fidel Edwards for the second half of the season. He hasn’t been seen yet, but Rajendran said the club was waiting for visa approval and hoped he would debut on Saturday week.

Dilshan went off to play in a legends tournament and has missed the past three matches.

Melbourne Renegades squad member Unmukt Chand filled in while he was away and will drop out of the side.

Unmukt Chand hitting out for the Hills.

Indian batsman Akshay Ballal came into the team in the first match after the Christmas break and has peeled off scores of 84, 62, 60 and 82 not out. That’s 288 runs at an average of 96.

Ballal had previously had stints at North Dandenong and Springvale South in the Dandenong District association.

On Saturday he blitzed 60 off 65 balls, with 5 sixes, in a crucial knock against Brunswick at Pargeter Reserve.

The Hills were bowled out for 175 in 39 overs but dismissed Brunswick for 108.

Acting captain Chris Pereira jagged 3-19 off five overs, including the big wicket of Premier Cricket great Simon Hill LBW for a duck.

Their victory over Strathmore in Sunday’s catch-up game was by a bigger margin.

Ballal hit 82 not out off only 69 balls – there were 2 sixes and 4 fours – to lift Endeavour Hills to 5-246.

Openers Tyrell Panditharatne (30) and Shiran Rajakaruna (28) set off the innings with a stand of 70 and Susantha Pradeep (34 off 32) and Jayde Herrick (26no off 18) hit out fiercely and fruitfully late in the innings.

Strathmore was all out for 160, with Pereira (3-27 off eight overs) having another good showing and Panditharatne (4-32 off nine) landing his leggies.

Pereira said Ballal was batting superbly.

“He’s got a good cricket brain and he’s a natural talent,’’ he said.

“He gets himself in and then he’s really hard to remove. He’s been a massive positive for us. He’s a half-decent bowler too.’’

Pereira said excitement was high at the Hills, with all four teams doing well.

“It’s been a while since the club has been in a position like that, to have everyone fighting for finals positions,’’ he said.

“I guess success breeds success.’’

He said the First XI players were eager to see how far they could go.

Pereira is a former Endeavour Hills captain but he said he would happily hand the skippership back to Dilshan, who, he said, had set the Hills on the road to a successful season.

The right-hander has scored 300 runs at 50 and taken 10 wickets at 16.3.

“He’s got us on this roll with his batting and his bowling,’’ Pereira said.

Rajendran has been involved with the club for 13 years.

He said he had never seen it as strong.

“I don’t think we’ve been this good in the ones ever,’’ he said.

“The last five years we’ve been 14th, 14th, 11th, 14th and 14th, and 14th was the bottom of the ladder.

“It’s all changed this season.’’