Ash Chandrasinghe tops Darwin’s First XI from the Premier Grade season
From a Waratah batter chasing The Don's centuries record to a Palmerston spinner’s monster 40-wicket haul, here are the best eleven players from Darwin cricket's regular season.
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THE Darwin & District Cricket Competition has been a memorable one with batting exploits rivalling the great Don Bradman’s from decades before.
Two batters have stood out amongst the pile in Premier Grade, Darwin’s Dylan Brasher and Waratah’s Ash Chandrasinghe, with the latter shooting for The Don’s record for most consecutive first grade hundreds in the final round of the year.
There have been dominant bowling displays too with Palmerston skipper Hamish Martin leading the league with 40 wickets.
DARWIN CRICKET’S FIRST XI FROM THE 2022 SEASON
1
Ash Chandrasinghe
Club: Waratah
Batting: 702 runs at 117
The fact the Waratah bat was shooting for The Don’s first grade record for consecutive hundreds in the final round speaks to an incredible season for the Victorian rookie-contracted player.
Unfortunately, with the 20-year-old only available for the first week of round 14, the Tahs lost the toss and Palmerston batted with Chandrasinghe making nine not out by stumps on day one.
Smashing 702 runs at the incredible average of 117 in Premier Grade, with two unbeaten tons in a row, Chandrasinghe is a definite star on the rise.
2
Dylan Brasher
Club: Darwin
Batting: 845 runs at 70.42
After starting the season with 21 runs from his first three hits, the Victorian southpaw suddenly exploded, smashing 845 at 70.42, including four tons and three half centuries for the year.
His biggest score was 195 against Palmerston as the Eagles posted a massive 8/486 in round 11.
3
Hamish Martin
Club: Palmerston
Bowling: 40 wickets at 16.6
A strong summer with SA Premier side Woodville in 2021-22 – 23 wickets at 20.48 in first grade – helped set up the left arm orthodox spinner’s golden season with the ball at Cazalys Arena.
The Palmerston skipper claimed 40 wickets in Premier Grade at the miserly average of 16.6.
That included three bags of five wickets and a match haul of 14/98 in a demolition of Tracy Village in round 10.
4
Caelan Maladay
Club: Nightcliff
Bowling: 31 wickets at 18.74
Batting: 232 runs at 58
The Sydney recruit had a fine all round season, coming second on the Premier Grade bowling aggregate with 31 wickets at 18.74.
That included an 11-wicket match haul against PINT in round 13, complemented by 91 with the bat coming in at six.
Maladay backed up with his bowling with 232 handy runs at 58 down the order, with that average boosted by several unbeaten knocks.
5
Sam Kerber
Club: Southern Districts
Batting: 431 runs at 53.88
Bowling: 16 wickets at 18.38
The only player to land in the top 10 for both batting and bowling aggregate in Premier Grade, the former SA Redback was the Crocs’ most consistent player.
The Adelaide University recruit made double figures in each of his nine innings, and finally delivered a big one with 168 against PINT in round 13, part of a 308-run stand with fellow former Redback Corey Kelly.
A more than handy left arm orthodox spinner, Kerber’s best match with the ball was a 6/40 performance against Tracy Village in round 11.
6
Jagadeswara Koduru
Club: Waratah
Batting: 577 runs at 72.12
The Northcote middle order recruit enjoyed a purple patch mid-season with four consecutive scores over 50, including a 147 against Darwin in round 12 as the Tahs posted 4/401 in a massive win.
In a remarkable sign of consistency, Koduru made double figures in all but one of his 11 innings in 2022, completing a fabulous debut at Gardens Oval.
7
Isaac Conway
Club: Waratah
Batting: 573 runs at 52.09
The Port Adelaide skipper in SA Premier cricket was also a super consistent contributor with four consecutive half centuries and then a century in his sixth innings: a 131 against Tracy Village in round 13.
The Tahs captain helped form a powerful trio in the Tahs top order alongside Koduru and Chandrasinghe.
8
Jake Reed
Club: Darwin
Bowling: 24 wickets at 20.08
The Victorian recruit and new Eagles coach led from the front at Kahlin Oval this season, coming fourth on the Premier Grade bowling aggregate.
His best bowling spell came in round 14 with 5/17 as Darwin demolished Tracy Village, his only five wicket haul for the season.
Only failed to take a wicket on two occasions from his 12 visits to the crease.
9
Antum Naqvi
Club: Tracy Village
Batting: 547 runs at 45.58
Naqvi deserves extra plaudits for making over 500 runs in a team which only won four games in 2022.
The classy right hander posted three tons for the season, with a best score of 113 in arguably Tracy’s best win for the season against Waratah in round 13, chasing down 344 for victory.
10
Matt Calder
Club: Darwin
Batting: 554 runs at 50.36
One of the Eagles most consistent batters for the season, Calder came fifth on the Premier Grade batting aggregate.
Calder contributed three half centuries and a ton, a 118 against PINT in round nine.
Apart from a pair of ducks, the Mosman recruit’s next lowest score was 21 against Southern Districts in round one.
A welcome return to Kahlin Oval after a brief spell in 2019, which produced a score of 270 against PINT.
11
Reiley Mark
Club: Tracy Village
Bowling: 28 wickets at 29.39
The Tracy spinner was a consistent contributor for the second bottom club in Premier Grade, failing to take a wicket on just one occasion from 11 appearances at the crease.
Bagged 6/98 in a losing cause to Nightcliff in round eight.
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