Cricket Southern Bayside: Bentleigh signs Sri Lankan Chamindu Mathra

The Demons have signed a gun batter and named the youngsters set to play a part in their premiership push in Cricket Southern Bayside in 2022-23.

Chamindu Mathra batting for Mordialloc. He’s joined Bentleigh for the 2022-23 season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Some good natured on-field banter has led to Bentleigh securing a star recruit.

Former Sri Lankan first-class player Chamindu Mathra was one of the leading batters in Cricket Southern Bayside Championship division last season playing for Mordialloc.

He scored 486 runs, at 34.71, including sparkling knocks of 116no against Hampton and 104 against Bonbeach.

It was while batting against Bentleigh — he made 59 and 51 — that Mathra made a connection with the Demons.

“We were chipping away at him and the interaction was just so fun we couldn’t keep it up because he was too nice,” Bentleigh captain coach Jarrad Dowling said.

“We ended up being friends with him and found ourselves chatting about batting mid game.

“We built a bit of a rapport with him.”

Bentleigh captain-coach Jarrad Dowling and recruit

Fast bowler Jermaine Levy has signed with Bentleigh. Picture: Facebook

Mathra is the third key recruit for Bentleigh ahead of the 2022-23 season, joining overseas signings, Jamaican paceman Jermaine Levy and English batter Ben Seabrook.

Opening batters in CSB can expect fire and brimstone from 28-year-old Levy, who is said to possess genuine pace.

He has four first-class matches under his belt and has played for the West Indies Emerging Players team.

Seabrook, 23, has played three first-class matches for Cambridge MCCU and is described as a quality top-order batter who can bowl some handy medium pace.

Dowling said Bentleigh would field a new-look side in 2022-23, with a splash of dynamism.

Luke Mott.

Jarrad Dowling.

He said the Demons’ youngsters were ready to fire after another season of First XI under their belt.

Strike bowler Tully Foot took some big wickets last season, going from strength to strength.

Dowling said Jake La’Brooy, a strapping fast bowler, has developed over the off season and “picked up an extra yard of pace”.

Spin bowlers Al Abraham and Luke Mott developed a good partnership last season and will bowl in tandem again in ‘22-23.

“They are very different but they compliment each other,” Dowling said of the spin twins.

Brendan Drew.

Bentleigh has lost experienced players Rob Ciccarella (retired) and Greg Buckley (moved to NSW), while former Tasmanian all-rounder Brendan Drew will play when family commitments permit.

“He won’t be able to commit to a full season but we’re still optimistic,’’ Dowling said of Drew.

“There’s a chance he’ll play some white ball cricket but it will be more on an adhoc basis.

“But he’s still keen to stay very connected, he will do some coaching with us around the bowling and be that good presence that he’s always been. He’s a great cricket guy and a good human as well.”

Dowling said Bentleigh would also gain several young English cricketers in its lower grades, creating a fun club environment.

“We feel we’ve got a really good mix,” he said.