Ruwantha Kellepotha continues slashing season for Berwick

The former Sri Lankan first-class player has emerged as the favourite for the association’s prestigious Wookey Medal.

Ruwantha Kellepotha bowling in the Victorian Super Slam last season.

Ruwantha Kellepotha cannot be kept out of the game.

If he’s not making runs he’s taking wickets.

On Saturday he even took a hat-trick for Berwick, against Springvale South.

The favourite for the Wookey Medal as best and fairest player in the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 1 section?

It has to be Kellepotha, 29, who has blasted 287 runs at 57.4 and grabbed 29 wickets at 9.7.

Outstanding all season, the former Sri Lankan first-class player was exceptional against Springy South at Harold Rd on Saturday.

His 63 came off only 59 balls, was lined with 3 fours and 4 sixes, and helped lift the visitors to a formidable 4-262 off their 45 overs.

Former first-class player Nathan Pilon blitzed 77 not out off 51 balls, packing in 10 fours and 4 sixes, and captain Matt Chasemore, dropped before he had scored, made 54 from the opening slot.

Ruwantha Kellepotha took a hat-trick for Berwick on Saturday.

Not even ace Bloods recruit Akshat Buck (0-64 off 10 overs) could escape punishment.

Kellepotha’s biggest say on the match was to come: his leg-spinners brought him 6-31 off 9.2 overs, including the first hat-trick of his career.

He had Dylan Quirk caught at slip, Mitch Cox LBW and Cam Scott caught at slip as South fell for 169 despite opener Ryan Quirk’s 73.

During the week Berwick had lost six points over the appearance of Brendan Rose in Premier club Richmond’s Second XI on Australia Day, but it won six points over a strong opponent on Saturday.

Kellepotha is in his eighth season and fourth club in the DDCA.

He joined Springvale South as an overseas player in 2013-14 and had two productive seasons, taking 20 and then 39 wickets, as well as hitting two centuries.

Then it was on to Keysborough for two seasons in Turf 2 and two at St Mary’s back in Turf 1. He had individual success with St Mary’s but few wins. He said that was the spur for him to join Berwick.

“I wanted to be play in a strong team,’’ Kellepotha said.

“Andrew Mazzagatti (Berwick official) actually asked me when I was looking for a club. He gave a good opportunity to me, financial-wise, and actually I thought it was a good club. St Mary’s, it was quite difficult. We were playing to survive. No one was performing. So I thought I would try to go to a strong team.’’

He did just that. Berwick won the premiership in 2019-20 and will give it a mighty shake this season.

“We have a very good team of cricketers,’’ he said.

Kellepotha has been living in Melbourne full-time for three years and is also playing in the Sunday league with Eastern Maroons.

He played 20 first-class matches between 2011-13, averaging 38.56 with the bat and 29.41 with the ball.

Last season Premier club Frankston Peninsula called him up to its Victorian Super Slam T20 squad.

Elsewhere in Turf 1 on Saturday, Hallam pacemen Will Whyte (4-22 off 12 overs) and Jordan Hammond (4-23) swept through Buckley Ridges, which was all out for 85 after at one stage being 7-36.

The Hawks got the runs without the loss of a wicket, thanks to Leigh Booth (51no) and Robert Parker (28no).

St Mary’s made only 98 but pulled off a stunning victory by upending North Dandenong for 67, Keppler Fernandez (4-38), Deeshan Vimukthi (2-24) and Kusan Niranjana (3-2) sharing the wickets. They more than answered Nimesh Kariyawasam’s haul of 4-11 off 9.2 overs for North, which is now on the bottom, three points behind St Mary’s and HSD.

Narre South paceman Josh Dowling captured 5-24 to lead his team past HSD, South hitting 5-96 in reply to 95.

Coming off his stunning century against Berwick, Kyle Hardy was 36 not out.