Ruwantha Kellepotha streaks off with DDCA’s Wookey Medal

Open to the idea of playing Premier Cricket, the former first-class all-rounder polls the most votes in Wookey history.

Ruwantha Kellepotha receives the Wookey Medal from legendary umpire Alan Wookey. Pic: Cam McDonnell

Ruwantha Kellepotha didn’t merely win the Wookey Medal.

He streaked it in, polling the most votes in the history of the medal and achieving the greatest winning margin.

The Berwick all-rounder and former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer accepted the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s coveted Turf 1 award on Sunday after gaining 45 votes from 12 matches.

Hallam Kalora Park’s Leigh Booth was second on 28, and Narre Warren paceman Josh Dowling was third in 22.

Then came Springvale South spinner Jarryd Straker on 20, Hallam Kalora Park’s Sachith Jayasingha on 19 and South’s other left-arm slowie, Akshat Buch, on 18.

Kellepotha’s innings of 64 against Hallam Kalora Park on Saturday gave him a home-and-away tally of 353 runs at an average of 44.1, to go with 34 wickets at 11.2.

Little wonder the leg-spinner was the hot favourite for the Wookey.

Kellepotha, 29, said this morning he understood the medal was a prestigious award in the Dandenong District association and he was thrilled to win it.

He said he gave himself a good chance.

Ruwantha Kellepotha bowling during a Super Slam stint with Frankston Peninsula.

“I think so. I’m happy with the season so far,’’ he said, adding that with the finals to come there was more to achieve.

Kellepotha said he hadn’t given much thought to playing Premier Cricket next season but was open to the idea.

He’s aware that his former Berwick coach, Will Carr, is taking over as head coach of Casey South Melbourne in 2021-22.

“I will finish first this season and then have a look,’’ he said.

Kellepotha played 20 first-class matches in Sri Lanka, making 617 runs at 38.56 and taking 55 wickets at 29.41.

He’s in his eighth season and fourth club in the DDCA.

He joined Springvale South as an overseas player in 2013-14 and had two strong 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, where he figured in last season’s premiership. He’ll have a big say in this season’s finals, with the Wicks to play Hallam Kalora Park for a ticket straight to the grand final.

Kellepotha has been living in Melbourne full-time for three years.

Berwick captain Matt Chasemore said his all-rounder was a “super player’’ and a team-first cricketer.

“He’s my equal-second favourite cricketer with Shaun Marsh, behind my son (Callum),’’ he said.

“And he’s so humble it’s not funny. He’ll do whatever you ask him to do. He’s not the sort of guy who says, ‘This is what I’m doing’. He says it to me all the time - ‘Whatever you think, skip’. I hear it every week.’’

Dandenong West’s Gurpreet Singh polled 26 votes to win the Gartside Medal as best and fairest player in Turf 2.

Beaconsfield pair Michael Vandort and Tyler Clark were equal second on 23.

In his second season with the West, Singh hit 208 runs at 23.1 and took 23 wickets at 12.2.