VSDCA 2022-23: Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne blasts off with century on debut

The Sri Lankan Test captain lit it up in his maiden appearance for Endeavour Hills in the VSDCA’s East-West group – with a special guest in attendance.

It’s not every day a Sri Lankan Test captain debuts for a suburban club – nor makes a ton to mark the occasion.

And it’s not every day a suburban club has one of the most powerful strikers in Sri Lankan cricket history in attendance as a special guest.

Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne blasted off with a century knock of 115 off 126 balls in the VSDCA’s East-West group on Saturday, helping his side to an opening-round 65-run win over Yarraville (6-201).

Opening the batting and setting up Hills’ 9-266 total, the prized recruit dazzled spectators and teammates alike.

Sri Lankan Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne raises the bat. Picture: Supplied

Just ask teammate and wicket-keeper, Nav De Silva.

“He’s a class player, we all know that, but it was a lot to learn for the boys as well the way he played the innings – very calm, and a lot of patience which was the most important thing,” De Silva said.

“It was an amazing innings to watch … in his debut as well, what a start – we were proud.”

Karunaratne starred alongside Damith Priyadarshana, with the No. 7 batsman belting 69 runs from 58 deliveries – including three sixes.

The special guest?

None other than Sanath Jayasuriya, with the former Sri Lankan captain and 1996 Cricket World Cup MVP presenting the caps to the club’s debutants.

De Silva, one of the founders of Global Talent Entertainment – the talent agency spearheading the Eagles’ bold recruiting of late – says the club will be seeing more of the man whose explosive batting earned him the nickname ‘Master Blaster’.

“We’ve been in chats with ‘Master Blaster’ (Sanath Jayasuriya) since last year just to come and do some mentoring for us, so he’ll be sticking around for a while, to come and have a chat before the game and stuff like that,” De Silva said.

“It (presenting the caps) was a special moment, not just for Dimuth himself but the other debutants as well which was good.”

Dimuth Karunaratne of Endeavour Hills batting on Saturday. Photo: Hamish Blair

Meanwhile, Yarraville opening batsman Aidan Salvado enjoyed a day out with 102 not-out off 117 balls.

Nigel Van Der Wert (2-19 off seven overs) and Thilakarathna Dilshan (2-37 off nine) led the way with the ball for Endeavour Hills while Ashane De Silva (3-32 off six) stood out for Yarraville.

Endeavour Hills finished second last season following a series of wooden spoons.

De Silva says while it’s no secret the club had recruited heavily, the external expectation attached to the calibre of names turning out for the club is welcomed.

“It’s always good to have these sorts of players to play alongside, because you get to learn from these guys a lot,” De Silva said.

“At the same time we do get some negative feedback and also positive, but it is what it is.

“We want to give the best to our club and to the players.

“Their mentality, the way they play their game, their experience and you get to learn which helps our future, especially the juniors, they get to learn from the best of the world.”

Endeavour Hills will stage two twilight T20 events at Dandenong’s Shepley Oval across November 27 and December 4, featuring a host of international cricket stars.