Sunshine Heights unveil star recruit Sameera Sadamal in Royal Australian Navy match

A former first class cricketer has boosted the aspirations of Sunshine Heights after producing a man-of-the-match performance on debut in a “really humbling” exhibition match.

VTCA club Sunshine Heights are set for an exciting finish to the season following the recruitment of former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Sameera Sadamal who starred on debut in an annual exhibition match against the Royal Australian Navy on Thursday.

Fresh off a 15-hour journey from Sri Lanka to Australia via Malaysia on Tuesday, Sadamal, 28, took 2-19 and scored an unbeaten 30 with the bat to see his side over the line, chasing 126 with the bat.

It added to a wonderful evening of cricket which focused on raising awareness of the navy’s interest in recruiting members and building relationships with Australians from culturally diverse communities.

The Royal Australian Navy team alongside umpires, guests and Sunshine Heights players during the national anthems.

It was the third year of the event which began in 2019.

Sunshine Heights president Walter Saldanha was proud of the day and continuing the tradition of the game.

“It was really humbling to host it,” Saldanha said.

“To have such a big turn out despite the weather and things were looking pretty dicey in the morning with the pitch under water but the guys, Adam Ciach, James Alp, Wayne Miller, they all worked tirelessly to get the pitch up.

“And it played reasonably well which was great and we got a full game in.”

Saldanha, who is in his first year as president said the relationship with the navy was getting stronger every year supported by Nick Magafas who served in the navy and also played at Heights.

“There is a great appreciation building between the two clubs and it was great to involve the sponsors this year including Craig Whittaker from AkzoNobel so the navy can see the bond that we have across the community,” he said.

“We want to foster and continue building that.

“This year we heard about Zac Ramsey, one of our junior players who is actually looking to progress a career in the navy.

“That is what this is all about, getting the navy to connect with the community.

“If we can be a conduit to that and they get some return in terms of getting people interested to learn more about the armed forces and even better, to join the arm forces, that’s a bonus.”

Saldanha said the club was excited about where the event could go in future.

“They want to use this platform now to really launch into some other more interesting and more family-orientated activities,” he said.

“Speaking to lieutenant commander Zulkarnain Naim, he was really keen to start looking at bringing a chopper in, bringing some of their equipment in so people get to see, touch and feel what they do.

“On the back of the cricket game which started out as a T20 contest between the two clubs, that was the feature event, it may now change a bit going into the future to attract more families and more of the community to the event.”

The club expressed its need for support from key stakeholders including Brimbank council, Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and the VTCA in order to continue growing the event.

Sunshine Heights new recruit Sameera Sadamal following his first game for the club.

Sadamal, a former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer with Dambulla and Kalutara, has scored three centuries and taken more than 40 wickets in his professional career.

The right-hand bat and off spinner is set to make his debut against Caroline Springs this Saturday in a big clash before Christmas which could see Heights gain its first win of the season and jump off the bottom of the ladder.

Saldanha was excited about having the pedigree of Sadamal at the club.

“It’s just been an absolute thrill,” he said.

“I looked at my phone yesterday when I took him out for lunch and it was literally about six weeks ago when we first approached him.

“And to get him in the country playing a game of cricket for Sunshine Heights, it was just an absolute thrill to hand over his cap yesterday and for him to see the club playing against the Royal Australian Navy.

Sunshine Heights president Walter Saldanha presenting Sameera Sadamal with his cap. (Picture: Supplied)

“It was a bonus he was able to get in the runs and take wickets too.

“We are looking forward to his first official game with us on Saturday.

“I just want to really extend my thanks to life member Steve Dimitriadis.

“He has done a mountain of work in the background to get an overseas player on the ground in the country with a visa within six weeks is just an amazing feat.”

The club had to apply for a Cricket Australia letter that could only be issued once the Sri Lankan cricket board sent a letter endorsing Sadamal.

Sadamal had previously played cricket in Ipswich, Australia which helped with fast tracking the process.

The win for Sunshine Heights in Sadamal’s debut was their third time winning the Lewis-Nizam Shield.

Sunshine Heights will take on fifth-placed Caroline Springs this Saturday, December 17 before the Christmas break.