DDCA: Buckley Ridges’ Ishan Jayarathna takes out Wookey Medal in 13-vote landslide

Ishan Jayarathna became the first Buckley Ridges player to win the DDCA’s Wookey Medal in 16 seasons – and did so resoundingly – despite the club reaching eight grand finals in that time.

Buckley Ridges bowler Ishan Jayarathna sends one down. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It was a landslide.

There was little doubt heading into the Wookey Medal count that the DDCA’s best and fairest honour would be strewn around any neck other than that of gun Buckley Ridges all-rounder Ishan Jayarathna.

He would win it with 41 votes, a resounding 13 clear of Hallam Kalora Park runner up Damith Perera.

The 35-year-old quick was the standout bowler of the season and had an average of below 12 until the final round. He finished the season with 33 wickets, and also struck a ton against Berwick with the bat.

That Jayarathna was so destructive with the ball while calling the pint-sized batter’s paradise Park Oval home, was a testament to his dominance.

“Playing at Park (Oval) is not easy … (Jayarathna) prefers coming up the hill at Buckley and he’s also got the ability to reverse the ball which makes him very dangerous with the new ball and old ball,” said Buckley Ridges president Sonny De Silva.

“That’s a unique ability, especially at Buckley where the pitch is batter friendly.”

Ishan Jayarathna is presented with the DDCA's coveted Alan Wookey Medal by Alan's daughter Sue. Picture: Supplied.

Jayarathna etched his name into Buckley history as just the fifth player from the club to win the coveted Wookey Medal since its inception, and was remarkably the first to do so in 16 years since William Butler in 2008-09.

In that time Buckley Ridges have reached eight grand finals and clinched four premierships, steered by greats such as Daniel Watson – who came within one vote of winning the Wookey but lost out to Michael Davies, who is now a teammate of Jayarathna’s at Buckley.

Ian Campbell, Dean Maynard, and Shane D’Rozario are the others to be bestowed the DDCA’s highest honour while playing for the club.

Coach Manjula Munasinghe described Jayarathna as “one of the best all-rounders going around” in the DDCA.

“Very handy with the bowling and fantastic batsman,” Munasinghe said.

Munasinghe credited Buckley’s improved fielding, and Jayarathna crashing through the five-wicket haul barrier, as reasons for his rise.

“He has been bowling very well, he’s been unfortunate, this level of cricket not many people are catching in the slips,” Munasinghe said.

“Our fielding improved a little bit this year and he got the early breakthrough … he couldn’t get five wickets last year, always four-for, once he hit the five-wicket mark he’s been unstoppable.

“He’s been bowling a brilliant line and very good outswing, he uses lots of experience now to get wickets.

“The team effort is so good and also (captain) Ben Hobbs uses him really well, doesn’t overload him, brings him on at the right time. Overall they’re doing well.”

DDCA cricket: North Dandenong v Buckley Ridges at Lois Twohig Reserve. Buckley Ridges bowler Ishan Jayarathna. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Since landing in the DDCA three seasons ago from Colombo, Jayarathna has been named in every Turf 1 team of the year.

He had a strong domestic career in Sri Lanka, striking 4212 runs and taking 424 wickets across 210 games in all formats.

De Silva said Jayarathna was one of a long-line of successful overseas recruits brought to the DDCA by Buckley Ridges, describing his club as “pioneers” in the space.

“He’s a player that had a lot of potential but never played for Sri Lanka,” De Silva said.

“We targeted a fast bowling all-rounder that we lacked at the club … he’s someone that we targeted who could play for seven, eight years. I’m glad that the recruitment went well and has paid dividends.”

Buckley Ridges will take on Hallam Kalora Park for a place in a fourth consecutive grand final this weekend as the club sets its sights on back-to-back premierships.

“This year I would say all four teams are really good, it’s going to be a really good competition coming up against Hallam,” Munasinghe said.

“Berwick are a fantastic team, Springvale has so much talent but they haven’t clicked together yet.

“Our team is so balanced, we don’t have a great deal of batters or bowlers but we are managing really well, very competitive players who don’t give up.

“Good qualities you need to be a champion team.”

Narre Warren’s Amila Raitnaike was a shining light in his side’s testing season to take out the Gartside Medal in Turf 2.

In Turf 3, Keysborough’s James Wright and Silverton’s Harkanwal Singh shared the McDonald Medal, narrowly pipping both Jatinder Singh and Surya Pratap by one vote.