By Jonty Ralphsmith
Jackson Marie appears to be the clear standout in the Turf 3 Medal count at the halfway point of the Dandenong District Cricket Association season.
He would just about be guaranteed full votes in the two games he scored centuries, while he was also the standout performer in the Titans’ round 2 clash with Coomoora when he scored 76.
That the confident lefty’s three finest performances have come in victories further works in his favour, while he may also snag a vote for his run-a-ball 64 in a loss to Fountain Gate.
The Titan’s closest challengers would at this point appear to be Coomoora tweaker Malan Madusanka, Doveton North bowling pair Sachith Jayasingha and Gayan De Silva and Fountain Gate allrounder Hasindu Waduge.
Former Turf 1 spinner Sachith Jayasinghe has justified the preseason hype for Doveton North, topping the wickets tally in the competition with 24 at an average of just 7.04.
He has at least three wickets in seven of the eight innings he has bowled in, with his greatest threat to the award his medium-paced bowling partner whose 23 wickets at 12 have included two five-wicket hauls.
Malan Madusanka’s sheer weight of overs and ability to tie down an end have been crucial in the return to two-day cricket.
The finger spinner has 22 wickets at an average of 9.41 this season, with his two games against Berwick Springs his best, while he could also snag one against Lynbrook or Doveton North.
Waduge has established himself as a consistent contributor in the Gators’ batting lineup, and looks set to snag full votes for his century against Berwick Springs and has two half-centuries in games he also bowled well in.
Another wildcard to watch going into the second half of the season is Chanaka ‘Ted’ Sampath. The Fountain Gate’s eyecatching bowling action, frugal figures and regular wicket-taking should see him in the chasing pack at the halfway point, and he still hasn’t found his best with the bat.
Nuwan Kulasekara, now playing in Turf 3 after Dandenong West was promoted, won the award last year.
