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| Sunday, 4 May 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Four Lankans take Noble Park to Victoria Sub-District title by CLIFFORD LANDERS from Australia MELBOURNE- Sri Lankan all-rounders Anooka Samarakkody, Monto Perera and Ashley Perera and wicketkeeper batsman Shane Pietersz contributed immensely and played major roles during the season to clinch the first premiership- the Victoria Sub-District Championship title- for Noble Park DCC. In the championship final against Preston DCC played in Caufield here last weekend, Noble Park after electing to bat first, depended on their tailend batsmen who rallied to score 202 after being hopelessly placed at 7 for 71. Anooka Samarakkody scored a valuable and unbeaten 25 runs and put on a face saving ninth-wicket partnership of 57-runs with Mark Rendle (55). Monto Perera scored 15 while Shane Pietersz and Ashley Perera failed to reach double figures. The Prestoners were strongly placed at 123 for 3 after Sri Lankan and former St.Anthony's, Katugastota all-rounder Nuwan Kalpage (44) partnered with Greg Hobba (47) to give them hope with a fourth wicket partnership of 84 runs. But Monto Perera snatched the two crucial wickets for one run and claimed the last 5 of the 6 wickets to fall, the other wicket being a run out. The Lankan bowling pair of right-arm medium pace bowler Ashley Perera (4 for 36) and right-arm leg-spin bowler Monto Perera (5 for 47) partnered to destroy the opposition for 163 and secure the sub-district title after a 13-year battle for Noble Park DCC. Ashley Perera missed several games due to injury. Former Royalist, 26-year-old Samarakkody who excelled with the ball in the preliminary round matches ended the season as the most successful bowler for the south eastern suburb side with a handsome 45 wickets from 13 matches with his best been 8 for 53 and scored over 200 runs which deservedly earned him the Club Champion Player Award. Former St.Joseph's, Colombo, Colts CC player and final year Bachelor of Commerce student Monto Perera also bowled an excellent spell of 6 for 60 in the preliminary final against Mount Waverly DCC and finished with a commendable 37 wickets which gave him the runner-up Club Champion title. Perera claimed five wickets or more on four occasions with 7 for 13 the best. The pair also fared outstandingly for the Colombo CC 'A' Grade side which ended as runners-up a few weeks ago at the popular YCW tourney. Perera was strongly favoured to win the 'A' grade best bowler and YCW Player of the Year award for his excellent performance with his all-round abilities. Pietersz who holds the club record for the highest number of dismissals with a praiseworthy 38 scalps, once again was outstanding behind the stumps and accounted for over 20 victims and scored over 200 runs during the season. Samarakkody has returned to Sri Lanka. He and Monto Perera played their first season for Noble Park DCC after moving from Monash DCC and Oakleigh DCC respectively. The Parkians committee members and supporters especially captain/coach Gavin Hurley and vice-president Geoff Richardson showered the four Lankans with praises. "We couldn't have done it without them. They are talented and gifted cricketers and truly deserve credit for winning the first premiership crown for us", they told the "Sunday Observer". |
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