Leader Local Cricket names a Team of the Year for every VTCA division

It’s finals time in the VTCA but first we must recognise the season’s top performers. Local Cricket’s scribes have named their Team of the Year in every division.

The Leader's VTCA Teams of the Year.

The Victorian Turf Cricket Association home-and-away season is complete, bring on finals.

But first … we must recognise the top performers from across the competition.

Leader Local Cricket’s scribes have poured over the stats and match-winning performances to name a Team of the Year in all seven senior divisions.

From Senior Division to Division 5 and Women’s Division, the best XI have been brought together.

The 2022-23 season has seen some incredible achievements and there are sure to be plenty more in the coming weeks as a premier is crowned.

Hashan Wanasekara in action for Deer Park. Picture: Hamish Blair

SENIOR DIVISION

1. Hashan Wanasekara (Deer Park)

Stats: 484 runs (ranked 2nd), average 40.33

2. Anthony Barton (Aberfeldie)

Stats: 407 runs (ranked 7th), average 33.92

3. Charles Thurston (Aberfeldie)

Stats: 511 runs (ranked 1st), average 42.58, 10 wickets, average 23.10

4. Viraj Lakshitha (Haig Fawkner)

Stats: 438 runs (ranked 3rd), average 43.80

5. Buddika Hasaranga (Druids)

Stats: 437 runs (ranked 4th), average 36.42

6. Sam Laffan (Craigieburn) (WK)

Stats: 417 runs (ranked 6th), average 37.91, 18 catches (ranked 1st), 1 stumping

7. Ricky Suvada (Deer Park)

Stats: 342 runs, average 28.50, 26 wickets (ranked 5th), average 14.08

8. Mitchell Johnstone (Yarraville Club)

Stats: 327 runs, average 29.73, 26 wickets (ranked 6th), average 20.62

9. Aziz Ullah (Haig Fawkner)

Stats: 35 wickets (ranked 1st), average 11.51

10. Matthew Gaskett (Keilor)

Stats: 34 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 12.82

11. Pathum De Mel (Westmeadows)

Stats: 32 wickets (ranked 3rd), average 14.59

12. Clayton Campbell (Westmeadows)

Stats: 413 runs (ranked 7th), average 33.92

Senior Division leading wicket-taker Aziz Ullah of Haig Fawkner.

Second-leading wicket-taker, Keilor’s Matthew Gaskett. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Carline Springs won the Women's Division premiership.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

1. Kareena Jacobsen-Logan (St Andrews Footscray)

Stats: 346 run (ranked 2nd), average 69.20, 6 wickets, average 11.17

2. Ashley Angus (Glenroy)

Stats: 211 runs (ranked 6th), average 70.33

4. Caitlin Pretty (Caroline Springs)

Stats: 483 runs (ranked 1st), average 96.60, 6 wickets, average 9.50

4. Alisha Fowler (Caroline Springs) (WK)

Stats: 255 runs (ranked 3rd), average 63.75, seven catches (ranked 1st), 1 stumping

5. Natalie Scott (Westmeadows)

Stats: runs (ranked 6th), average 45.80, 10 wickets (ranked 4th), average 7.80

6. Jamie Bradley (Glenroy)

Stats: 234 runs (ranked 5th), average 58.50

7. Sara Drew (Glenroy)

Stats: 180 runs (ranked 7th), average 30.00 12 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 8.75

8. Jacqueline Wade (Aberfeldie)

Stats: 154 runs (ranked 10th), average 22.00, 9 wickets ranked 7th), average 12.56

9. Kara Craig (St Andrews Footscray)

Stats: 91 runs, average 18.20, 9 wickets (ranked 7th), average 10.00

10. Myyen Au (Caroline Springs)

Stats: 13 wickets (ranked 1st), average 7.00

11. Nicole Cutajar (Westmeadows)

Stats: 12 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 4.50

12. Bella Vandervalk (Williamstown CYMS)

Stats: 96 runs, average 24.00, 7 wickets, average 16.14

Sunshine’s Kaushal Lokuarachchi rolls the arm over. Picture: Andy Brownbill

DIVISION 1

1. Ishan Peiris (Sydenham-Hillside)

Stats: 764 runs (ranked 1st), average 58.77

2. Jordon Kelly (Airport West St Christophers)

Stats: 560 runs (ranked 4th), average 43.08

3. Anthony Alleyne (Sydenham-Hillside)

Stats: 567 runs (ranked 3rd), average 56.7, 19 wickets (ranked 8th) at 16.42

4. Gayashan Weerasekara (Sydenham-Hillside)

Stats: 622 runs (ranked 2nd), average 88.86, 9 wickets, average 22.44

5. Tarek Moughanie (West Coburg)

Stats: 552 runs (ranked 5th), average 42.46

6. Carlos Maynard (PEGS) (WK)

Stats: 550 runs (ranked 6th), average: 42.31, 12 catches (ranked 2nd), 1 stumping, 2 run outs

7. Kaushal Lokuarachchi (Sunshine)

Stats: 397 runs, average 30.54, 31 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 12.13

8. Kyle Scheepers (Seddon)

Stats: 269 runs, average 22.42, 29 wickets (ranked 3rd), average 14.69

9. Charitha Wijesinghe (Sunshine)

Stats: 27 wickets (ranked 4th), average 17.00

10. Nathan Patrick (Altona North)

Stats: 27 wickets (ranked 5th), average 18.67

11. Michael Pratt (West Coburg)

Stats: 35 wickets (ranked 1st), average 13.34

12. Patrick Willach (Doutta Stars)

Stats: 429 runs, average 42.90, 15 wickets, average 21.87

Tharanga Indika in action for Altona Roosters. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIVISION 2

1. James Park-Johnson (Royal Park-Brunswick)

Stats: 481 runs (ranked 1st), average 48.10

2. Luke Smith (Keilor Park)

Stats: 412 runs (ranked 4th), average 37.45

3. Nadeera Thuppahi (Altona Roosters)

Stats: 416 runs (ranked 3rd), average 46.22

4. James Muirhead (Newport-Digman)

Stats: 476 runs (ranked 2nd), average 39.67

5. Isuru Okandage (St Andrews Pascoe Vale)

Stats: 405 runs (ranked 5th), average 36.82

6. Tharanga Indika (Altona Roosters) (WK)

Stats: 368 runs (ranked 7th), average 28.31, 20 catches (ranked 1st), 4 stumpings, 1 run-out

7. Trent Thomson (Keilor Park)

Stats: 232 runs, average 19.33, 30 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 12.93

8. Dean Gila (Keilor Park)

Stats: 363 runs (ranked 8th), average 51.86, 30 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 17.37

9. Clarke Doughney (West Newport)

Stats: 215 runs, average 43.00, 26 wickets (ranked 5th), average 13.88

10. Chathura Darshana (Greenvale Kangaroos)

Stats: 27 wickets (ranked 4th), average 21.19

11. Dishnaka Manoj (Altona Roosters)

Stats: 31 wickets (ranked 1st), average 11.32

12. Ashen Abeykoon (Footscray United)

Stats: 340 runs, average 48.57, 20 wickets, average 15.45

Point Cook’s Max Rouvray is also a talented footballer. Picture: Andy Brownbill

DIVISION 3

1. Reece Blackman (Caroline Springs)

Stats: 396 runs (ranked 5th), average 33.00

2. Farrukh Shahzad (Pascoe Vale Hadfield)

Stats: 495 runs (ranked 2nd), average 41.25, 10 wickets, average 32.60

3. Gurpreet Suri (Caroline Springs)

Stats: 404 runs (ranked 4th), average 36.73

4. Nilan Fernando (Grand United)

Stats: 554 runs (ranked 1st), average 69.25

5. Dhanushka Dharmasiri (East Keilor)

Stats: 483 runs (ranked 3rd), average 40.25

6. Josh van Zyl (Point Cook) (WK)

Stats: 306 runs, average 21.86, 29 catches (ranked 1st), 2 stumpings

7. Cooper McPharlane (Glenroy)

Stats: 346 runs, average 23.07, 28 wickets (ranked 3rd), average 12.43

8. Harry Singh (Point Cook)

Stats: 302 runs, average 25.17, 24 wickets (ranked 6th), average 13.25

9. Max Rouvray (Point Cook)

Stats: 289 runs, average 26.27, 35 wickets (ranked 1st), average 11.80

10. Tarique Jeffrey (East Keilor)

Stats: 298 runs, average 24.83, 32 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 14.97

11. Brad Hunter (Sunbury)

Stats: 24 wickets (ranked 6th), average 9.83

12. Usman Ashraf (Werribee Centrals)

Stats: 378 runs (ranked 6th), average 31.50, 20 wickets, average 21.75

Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s wicket-taker Daniel Stavris during his time at Keilor. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIVISION 4

1. Patrick Didham (Moonee Valley)

Stats: 376 runs (ranked 4th), average 25.07

2.Salman Afridi (Moonee Valley)

Stats: 550 runs (ranked 1st), average 68.75

3. Sam Younghusband (Moonee Valley)

Stats: 407 runs (ranked 3rd), average 50.88

4. Sakun Hettiyahandi (Gellibrand)

Stats: 509 runs (ranked 2nd), average 50.90

5. Rukshan Fernando (Maribrynong Park St Marys)

Stats: 376 runs (ranked 4th), average 47.00, 14 wickets, average 19.64

6. Suraj Weerasinghe (Moonee Valley)

Stats: 332 runs (ranked 10th), average 41.50, 9 catches (ranked 4th), 2 stumpings, 2 run-outs

7. Sohaib Bhutta (Roxburgh Park Broadmeadows)

Stats: 235 runs, average 21.36, 20 wickets, average 12.25

8. Akila Ishanka (St Andrews Footscray)

Stats: 34 wickets (ranked 2nd), average 9.53

9. Paul Hetherington (Gellibrand)

Stats: 38 wickets (ranked 1st), average 11.18

10. Daniel Stavris (Maribrynong Park St Marys)

Stats: 33 wickets (ranked 3rd), average 12.09

11. Mark Doricott (St Andrews Footscray)

Stats: 31 wickets (ranked 4th), average 8.65

12. Zac Bateman (Moonee Valley)

Stats: 362 runs (ranked 6th), average 25.86, 14 wickets, average 20.43

Sameera Vithana starred with bat and ball this season for Melton South. Picture: Kylie Else

DIVISION 5

1. Amila Mendis (Seabrook)

Stats: 453 runs (ranked 3rd), average 34.85, 17 wickets, average 20.41

2. Satheesh Fernandu (East Coburg)

Stats: 382 runs (ranked 8th), average 31.83, 29 wickets (ranked 4th), average 9.59

3. Thiwanka Kekulawala (Melton South)

Stats: 467 runs (ranked 2nd), average 38.92, 19 wickets, average 12.32

5. Mathew Sanders (Burnside Springs)

Stats: 514 runs (ranked 1st), average 51.40, 23 wickets, average 20.50

4. Joseph Conlin (East Coburg)

Stats: 444 runs (ranked 4th), average 63.43, 19 wickets, average 16.37

6. Hashan Chamara (Melton Centrals)

Stats: 395 runs (ranked 5th), average 39.50, 18 wickets, average 14.39

7. Daniel Nightingale (Footscray Angliss) (WK)

Stats: 341 runs, average 37.89, 10 catches (ranked 4th), five stumpings (ranked 3rd)

8. Sameera Vithana (Melton South)

Stats: 395 runs (ranked 6th), average 30.38, 35 wickets (ranked 1st), average 14.27

9. Matthew Williams (Sunshine YCW)

Stats: 35 wickets (ranked 1st), average: 10.97

10. Wade Kirkwood (Sanctuary Lakes)

Stats: 30 wickets (ranked 3rd), average 10.33

11. Daniel Kilfoy (Seabrook)

Stats: 28 wickets (ranked 5th), average 15.75

12 – Tim Stephens (Burnside Springs)

Stats: 322 runs, average 26.83, 15 wickets, average 24.60