Dilshan steals the show in LDCA opener

• A Grade, Division 1

After the first two rounds of the Leongatha District Cricket Association’s (LDCA) season were stolen away and abandoned due to rain impacting ground conditions, we finally saw some action on the weekend and the wait was certainly worth it!

Korumburra v OMK 
There’s no beating around the bush here, this game was all about one man, a man who sparked conversations league wide when he was signed, a man with all the tools and a remarkable resume, a man by the name of Thilakaratne Dilshan. 

Sporting the Cobras blue, the former Sri Lankan international was brought into the action early after Korumburra won the toss on their home deck. 

With over 17,500 runs across all three international formats for Sri Lanka, including over 10,000 in the One Day format, it was no surprise Dilshan adjusted to the Gippsland conditions straight away. 

Coming in at number three, the boom recruit reeled off a smooth and almost unbothered century (119) in 85 balls, as wickets fell around him. 

The 47-year-old then decided it was ‘go time’, providing some thrilling entertainment as he went all or nothing trying to hit boundary after boundary until he was caught on the rope by Jacob Lamers, off a Jake Cochrane delivery. Cochrane (4/55 from 7) fought back brilliantly, finishing with four wickets and effecting a run out to hold ‘Burra to 8/240 after their 40 overs. 

In reply, the Diggers looked steady reaching the thirties without loss, but the wicket of Thomas Wyatt (23 from 20) was all the spark the hosts needed, tearing through the visiting Diggers XI to dismiss them for just 103.

Harry McNeil did the damage at the top, claiming the huge scalps of Ethan Lamers (26 off 49 balls) and Koby Brann (13 off 45 balls) before Dilshan did the rest. 

The former Sri Lankan captain ensured he made a huge splash in his finishing with 6/17, as OMK lost their final eight wickets for just 41 runs gifting the Cobras the 137-run win. 

Phillip Island v Nerrena
Almost as though it was an attempt to steal the spotlight back from the Sri Lankan superstar, Daniel Mock and the Phillip Island XI made an early statement of their own on Saturday, with an impressive 107-run win over last season’s semi finalists, Nerrena. 

Mock won the toss and chose to bat first at the Newhaven Recreation Reserve and although they lost Heath Womersley without scoring, it absolutely paid off. 

In a true captain’s knock, the LDCA’s premier batsman was back to his best after an up and down 2022/23 season, blasting the visiting bowlers to all parts, with an outstanding (and round high) 149 not out, coming off just 104 balls. 

Mock’s huge knock, and mammoth 132-run partnership with Shiran Ratnayake (62 from 48) saw the Sharks post 4/286 at the conclusion of their 40 overs, four Nerrena bowlers each took a wicket. 

Chasing 287 for victory, the visitors got straight to work and were doing it well, passing the half century mark before losing their first wicket at 66. 

Unfortunately, they were unable to find that same groove their opening pair of Loc Roberts (31 from 42) and Mitch Clark (44 from 52) shared to begin the innings, as they lost 7/113 and fell short of the win. 

Rathnayake (2/27 from 7) picked up a pair of wickets to go with his crucial half century, but Mock was clearly the best afield. 

Town v Club
A brilliant team bowling effort from Leongatha Town has seen them pull back a fast-starting Wonthaggi Club and secure an early win.

After losing the toss, Town were asked to field first and surrendered 90 runs before taking their first scalp, going the way of Darcy Hume (2/45 from 8) who removed Mitch Thomas (54 from 54) after he passed 50. 

The hometown ‘Gatha attack then truly found their straps, halting Wonthaggi’s run as they lost 8/104 to finish 8/188 after their 40 overs, setting up an interesting chase at Scorpion Park. 

Just as the visitors had done to open the match, Leongatha’s openers almost reached the 100 mark before losing a wicket, when Ron Abeysinghe (56 from 74) fell with the score on 94. 

His running mate and skipper Jesse Giardina (69 from 84) continued on though, despite an irregular poor showing from Amila Ratnaike (13), leading his team home with one over and four wickets to spare. 

James Sheerin (3/34 from 8) was solid with the ball in the loss. 

Imperials v Inverloch
Inverloch brought an exciting line up over to East Campus Oval, with several young and returning guns, but it wasn’t enough to take the chocolates from Jack Ginnane and his Imps squad. 

Ginnane won the toss and elected to bat first and his side was in trouble almost immediately as Stingrays spearhead Lewis Rankin (3/29 from 8) had his tail up early. 

The Imperials skipper was able to keep the ship afloat though, alongside from Mark Lafferty (65 from 72), the pair advancing the score 105-runs and saving the day for the hosts who were at a crossroads at 4/35.

The 105-run stand meant the Imps were able to post a defendable 8/191 after their 40 overs after some interesting fielding efforts from Inverloch. 

In reply, the travelling Stingrays looked solid at the top before Jack Butcher (6) fainty edged one through to the keeper. 

Walter Taberner (24 from 72) and his captain Andrew Donohue (30 from 40) attempted to steady the ship, but both fell after getting starts. Rankin did his best to reel his side back into the game with a gallant 40 from 29 balls, but it wasn’t enough as Ginnane backed up his performance with the bat with two wickets and a run out in the field to see his side home to a 37-run win.