Ashley Chandrasinghe sets record with fifth-straight ton

A youngster from Casey South Melbourne has achieved the impossible bringing up a three figure score to break an astounding Darwin record.

Ashley Chandrasinghe has broken the record for the most consecutive hundreds in Darwin Premier cricket after scoring his fifth-straight ton on Saturday.

Drenched in sweat from the “more than normal” humidity at Gardens Oval in Darwin, Chandrasinghe scored his fifth straight hundred finishing the day unbeaten on 159.

The left hander from Casey South Melbourne faced 245 balls in the 320 minutes he batted for, hitting 12 fours and a six as an opening batsman.

Playing in his third season for the Waratahs, Chandrasinghe broke the record of four-straight tons previously set by South Australia’s Jake Weatherald in 2015.

The 20-year-old complimented the club after the achievement who are on a six-game win streak.

“It does mean a lot especially as it hasn’t been done before and it means a lot for me to represent the Waratahs as well,” Chandrasinghe said.

“They have looked after me so well for three seasons now so it was good to get some attention on I guess myself and the club as well at Gardens Oval.

“Obviously I think it doesn’t end here, the goal is to play higher and see how far I can go.”

Waratah batter Ash Chandrasinghe brings up his fifth consecutive hundred against Tracy Village. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Chandrasinghe said cardio fitness was vital in the Darwin conditions particularly for players like himself who played on back-to-back days with the Cricket 365 competition on Sunday’s.

“If it’s not [up to standard] then you probably won’t be able to play Saturday, Sunday games,” he said.

“I think most of the people playing up here would testify to that.”

The Melbourne University commerce student mentioned that the conditions in Darwin made it tough although he said that listening to his body and knowing when to train was helping him get through.

Waratah batter Ash Chandrasinghe in action during his record breaking innings. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Chandrasinghe setting the new consecutive hundred record could have been a different story however if a simultaneous run out and catch chance was taken.

After gloving a ball from a sweep shot which luckily flew over the keepers head and down leg, Chandrasinghe wandered down the pitch.

The throw from Josh Kann can be seen narrowly missing the stumps to the left from about 15 metres away.

“It would have been out if it hit,” Chandrasinghe said.

“It was a sweep shot that didn’t really go anywhere to the fielder which was pretty lucky.

“It was a catch and run out chance in the same sequence.

“I wasn’t sure where the ball was so I was sort of wandering down the pitch and then he threw the ball and I was probably a metre out if he hit.”

Chandrasinghe was 23 runs off 43 balls at that stage. It was the first chance he had given prior to making a hundred in the run of five straight centuries.

Chadrasinghe gives a chance before reaching record ton Credit: FrogBox, NT Cricket.

The 20-year-old began his season with two ducks followed by a score of 35 before scoring five consecutive centuries of 102, 123, 108, 166* and 159*.

It has marked a stunning turnaround in form for the newly contracted Victorian rookie.

And now, after being unbeaten on 166 in the previous game, the run machine has now faced 479 balls without being dismissed for a total of 325 runs.

It has tallied up to 10 hours and 59 minutes without a wicket taking delivery to the youngster.

Chandrasinghe of Sri Lankan born parents broke the record with his seventh ton in the North Territory.

In his first season, he didn’t register a ton before scoring two big hundreds last season of 172 and 156.

Josh Kann who has been on the receiving end of Chandrasinghe hundreds before credited his achievement after a long day in the field for Tracy Village.

“He was so patient,” Kann said.

“He was probably only on 50 at the forty over mark off about 100 to 120 balls.

“He was just so calm and patient the whole innings really and then he sort of cashed in at the end when he got his hundred.

“It was another incredible knock.

Josh Kann in action for Southern Storm in the Strike League. Picture: NT Cricket.

“He has probably made about three hundreds against me now either in Strike League or club cricket,” he laughed.

“They have all been pretty spectacular.”

Kann who played for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash last season said the wicket was flat at Gardens Oval, a picturesque ground in close proximity to the Darwin city.

The all-rounder detailed how Chandrasinghe handled the ‘nervous nineties’. He said that a few words were brought up about the record at stake for Chandrasinghe.

“Not really anyone in our team was but I was sort of letting him know,” he said.

“He got a little bit nervous in the nineties where he was, I wouldn’t say chewing them but being a bit cautious and just wanting to try and get there.

“And obviously it was a good knock and he got there in the end which was incredible.

“The Waratahs boys went off.

Ash Chandrasinghe celebrates his record breaking hundred with Isaac Conway. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Chandrsinghe brings up record century

“And Ash is so calm and doesn’t really show much emotion. He didn’t even take his helmet off for his hundred.

“He just raised his bat to his teammates.

“It was pretty special to him and then he brought up his 150 and took his helmet off and it was a bit different.”

Chandrasinghe revealed that he had made the decision to keep the helmet on for the hundred earlier in his innings so he didn’t get distracted by the celebration.

“It started last year in the two dayer against Darwin and I was on 99 and I could sort of feel my thoughts sort of wonder a little bit about the 100 and the celebration.

“And I sort of felt myself premeditating a single and then I kicked one on 99.

“I had a conversation with James Seymour afterwards and he was saying a hundred is good but the aim should be to score 150 so it should take the stress off making a 100 which it sort of has.

“So that’s why I don’t really like taking off the helmet for a hundred just so it helps me focus rather than think about the celebration and that sort of stuff.”

Chandrasinghe says he does still take the helmet off at times when he feels comfortable.

Ashley Chandrasinghe scoring a hundred for Casey South Melbourne.

Chandresinghe said a message from his personal batting coach Owen Mottau during the week helped him stay on task.

That message was: ‘Consistency is the hallmark of a good batsman.’

“That is what he drills into me which he is pleased I am doing,” he said.

Asked what his next challenge was, Chandrasinghe answered: “I suppose it’s the next game or next innings I guess.”

“But obviously when we go back home, I will try and keep the same form going or the same plans and hopefully that will bring about higher honours,” he said.

“I think the challenge is to try and keep being hungry and willing to learn more because when you’re doing well, it is pretty easy to get complacent so I think that is the main challenge as well.”

Chandrasinghe is hoping to make his debut in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield team this summer.

“I’m not too sure when or if that will happen but that will be something I’m working towards,” he said.

He said exploring his own games and working on some technical elements will help him take the step to the next level.

Cricket Victoria’s head of talent development Dean Russ said it was great to see Chandrasinghe’s performances.

“His continued improvement over the last 12 months has been really pleasing to follow,” Russ said.

“We‘ve been really encouraged by the way he’s gone about his development in Darwin over our winter. It’s important that our players are taking the opportunities in front of them, and he’s certainly done that.

“Hopefully this can be the start of a really big season for Ash and his form can continue in Victoria.”