New PEGS captain-coach Rasika Batepola lures Indika Massalage to VTCA club
New PEGS captain-coach Rasika Batepola has made a strong start to his tenure, securing a record-breaking batsman from the GDCA and a former Sri Lanka First Class spinner for the 2020-21 VTCA campaign.
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Determined to make a mark in the VTCA’s merged Division 1 this season PEGS has secured a record-breaking recruit.
Having already lured Rasika Batepola’s back from Diggers Rest Bulla as captain-coach, PEGS have also secured his teammate Indika Massalage.
Massalage broke the Gisborne District high-score record last season when he smashed 266 against Sunbury United.
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In his only season for the GDCA club he would finish with 644 runs for the season – third most in the McIntyre Shield – at an average of 53.67.
Batepola was rapt to have him on board to bolster the club’s batting power.
“(Indika) played with me last year, he hits the ball really cleanly and he’s got so much talent,” he said.
“He’s a keeper as well, so it’s an excellent signing for us.”
PEGS have also snared former Sri Lanka First Class off-spinner Pishan Hewage.
Hewage played for the Western Lions in the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association last season knocking up 322 runs at an average of 26 and claiming 11 wickets in 13 matches.
The pair of recruits will help fill the positions left by PEGS’ West Indian imports Carlos Maynard and Shakeem Clarke who are not expected to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Batepola is a four-time PEGS club champion and is looking forward to leading the team in the new look competition.
“The kids are older now so I thought it was a good time to come back to PEGS to play a bit of turf cricket before I retire,” he said.
“It was my first club in Australia and I can’t wait to get started.
“Our batting is looking really strong, we’re probably missing one good fast bowler … (but) the season looks really promising.”
PEGS finished sixth in the Howarth Shield last season with three wins and will look to top run-scorer and wicket-taker Lucas Elliott to continue his strong form.
Elliott scored 280 runs to finishing eighth on the league charts last season and claimed 20 wickets – ninth most in the home-and-away season.