Chinthaka Jayasinghe named VTCA Tony Isaacs Shield’s best player

Age is no barrier for Westmeadows’ Chinthaka Jayasinghe after the veteran all-rounder was named the Tony Isaacs Shield’s best player ahead of St Francis de Sales’ run machine Aaron Maynard.

Westmeadows Chinthaka Jayasinghe. Picture: Kylie Else

Age is no barrier for Westmeadows’ Chinthaka Jayasinghe after the all-rounder was named the Tony Isaacs Shield’s best player in 2018-19.

Jayasinghe — a former international for Sri Lanka — claimed the honour with 26 votes, ahead of St Francis de Sales’ run machine Aaron Maynard on 23.

At 40 years old Jayasinghe led the Warriors in runs and wickets this season and coach Tarek Moughanie paid tribute to his star player.

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“He’s an exceptional player,” he said.

“Probably the best Sri Lankan cricketer I’ve played with in the last 20 years and there’s been some former Test cricketers in there as well.

“What makes his win more astounding was the fact he was unable to train due to work commitments.

Chinthaka Jayasinghe rolls the arm over. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It’s great for the VTCA and local cricket, junior cricketers in particular, to have exposure to international players like CJ.”

Jayasinghe amassed 379 runs — sixth most in the home-and-away season — at an average of 29.15 in 13 Tony Isaacs Shield games this season, adding 23 wickets at an average of 12.6.

Jayasinghe is one of several internationally capped cricketers in the VTCA along with fellow Sri Lankan Chanaka Welegedara and West Indian trio Darrel Brown, Brenton Parchment and Lorenzo Ingram

A five-time T20 international for his country, Jayasinghe followed Moughanie to Westmeadows from Greenvale Kangaroos in 2017-18.

Recognised as one of the league’s premier batsmen, Moughanie said Jayasinghe’s bowling was also invaluable.

Aaron Maynard in action for St Francis de Sales.

“He’s a very accurate medium pacer with a lot of variation, so he’s very hard to hit and tests batsmen’s techniques.”

Coach and star all-rounder have committed to the Warriors for the next two seasons as they chase a return to finals and promotion to Senior Division.

Westmeadows was winless in the last four rounds of the season to just miss out on a finals berth.

Maynard finished the season as the leading run scorer in Isaacs Shield with 543 at an average of 41 while Haig Fawkner pair Muhammad Naeem and Amit Chaudhary were the top wicket-takers with 44 and 40 scalps respectively.

VTCA AWARD WINNERS

SENIOR: Kaushal Lokuarachichi (Keilor), runner-up Lorenzo Ingram (Doutta Stars)

DIV 1 NORTH: Chinthaka Jayasinghe (Westmeadows), runner-up Aaron Maynard (St Francis de Sales)

DIV 1 WEST: Craig Sheedy (Aberfeldie), runners-up Angelo Emmanuel (Deer Park), Dinesh Cooray (Airport West St Christopher’s)

SPIRIT OF CRICKET: John Gioupas (Haig Fawkner), Geoff Law (West Coburg) & Andrew Leetet (Williamstown CYMS)

SENIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR

Hamish Moore (Doutta Stars)

Kaushal Lokuarachchi (Keilor)

Lorenzo Ingram (Doutta Stars)

Omar Phillips (Strathmore)

Lucas Kennedy (Strathmore)

Brenton Parchment (Doutta Stars) (Capt)

Justin Bramble (Strathmore)

Upal Bandara (Keilor)

Chanaka Welegedara (Strathmore)

Dinesh Darshanapriya (Keilor)

Jamie McIlroy (Doutta Stars)