Buddika Hasaranga’s breakthrough ton puts Druids on top in critical clash

Despite sitting second-last, Druids remains in the VTCA Senior Division finals hunt and has a win within reach thanks to a Buddika Hasaranga ton.

Despite sitting second-last Druids remain in VTCA Senior Division finals contention.

And a fighting century from Buddika Hasaranga has the Wizards in a strong position to secure a critical win over second-placed Sunshine United.

Hasaranga’s 113 from 130 balls saw Druids post 9-279 from their 80 overs at Selwyn Park and must now dismiss the Tigers to keep their season alive.

It’s the former Sri Lanka First Class batsman’s first hundred in the VTCA, beating a previous high score of 90 for Moonee Ponds in Division 4 in 2020-21.

Druids skipper Leigh Wilson was rapt to see his teammate bring up three figures.

Jarrod Parsons in action for Druids. Picture: Steve Tanner

Nathan Johnson in action for Druids. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Buddika’s been threatening throughout the year so it was great to see him put it all together (on Saturday) and hold our innings together,” Wilson said.

“A few guys got starts in the top five but he was the only one that kicked on with it.

“We were staring down the barrel of 180 to 200 at tea but his innings was fantastic and to get to 280 is a mammoth effort to be honest.

“He was circumspect early on but as things went on he got his eye in and was able to spread the field and take it to them.

“He was getting a single pretty much every ball, they spread the field to try and get him off strike, but he was still able to get enough boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking over.”

After winning the toss and batting, Jarrod Parsons (43) got Druids off to a strong start, while Joshua Michetti (26), Asela Aluthge (25), Eamon Scott (20 not out) and Wilson (19) all made contributions.

However, it was Hasaranga that held the innings together, finally falling with the score at 9-267.

The 130-ball knock included 14 boundaries.

Leigh Sheridan was Sunshine United’s best with the ball, finishing with 4-67, while Hamza Ali captured 3-63.

Wilson said it would take a disciplined performance with the ball to secure the win.

“The pitch was pretty flat and I expect it to be next week as well so it will take a disciplined performance,” he said.

“Obviously, we’ll have a few runs to play with but how our attack is structured, even though we’ve got Nathan (Johnson), we’ve got a lot of guys that build pressure and bowl in partnerships.

“If we can bowl how we bowled against St Albans, we were able to build pressure from both ends and force the batsmen to take risks, that’s how we’re going to win the game. I don’t think we’re going to try and blast them out.”

Wet weather saw the Round 11 match against St Albans washed out and Druids’ season hanging by a thread.

The Wizards remain 10 points behind fourth-placed Yarraville Club with two games remaining in the home-and-away season.

Every team from second to ninth remains in the hunt for a top-four spot with just 12 points separating the eight clubs.

Druids will face Craigieburn in the final round of the regular season.

“We said before the game we’ve got to win our games and we’ll see what other results happen,” Wilson said.

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“We’ve been around the mark all year but had a couple of close losses and unfortunately the washout last week has us lower than we’re we’d like.

“We think we’re good enough to make finals so we’ve got to come back next week and get the job done.”

Elsewhere in Senior Division, Anthony Barton’s century has Aberfeldie (9-347) in command against Deer Park and St Albans (252) is on top against Keilor.

Craigieburn (164) will have some work to do with the ball to defeat Yarraville Club and Haig Fawkner posted 202 and has Westmeadows 1-10 in their clash.