Jayasekara’s whirlwind knock

By Nick Creely

WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 11
Upper Beaconsfield captain Bathiya Perera is not at all surprised by star recruit Imesh Jayasekara’s stunning season, believing he is a ‘special talent’ that can help his side break into the finals this season.
In the Maroons’ one day clash with Emerald at Chandler Reserve on Saturday, Jayasekara blasted an incredible 169; a knock including 17 fours and six sixes; as his side carved its way to a mind boggling 7/349 off 40 overs.
It’s an innings that not only pushed Jayasekara to the top of the Premier Division run tally, but it also forced a re-shuffle of the record books.
No player has made a higher score in Premier Division white ball cricket, and it’s now the tenth highest individual score overall.
“He opened the batting, and got out in the 40th over; he started off well and just accelerated towards the end,” Perera said of Jayasekara’s knock.
“It was an amazing innings to watch; he was 91 not out when I went into bat, and in the partnership I was so impressed with his ability to pick the right balls to hit, it was the difference.
“He’s the highest run scorer in the competition now, and to be honest, in the first game against Pakenham, he just started so well; he’s scored runs against all the top sides, he does it against the best.
“He’s got something special; being the person that got him to the club, I knew his capabilities.
“Imesh is only 21, but he’s been someone who has scored big runs before, and someone who makes big scores when he gets going; it’s pleasing to see him do it in the middle.”
Breathing down the neck of Cardinia in fourth position, Perera said if they can straighten out their bowling, they’re a threat no side wants to face.
“We are one of the best batting sides in the competition; we have put on 175 plus and maybe 200 in the Twenty20’s, and made some big scores in the two day cricket, it’s our bowling which hasn’t been at the top,” he said.
“I’m pleased with the batting form and the team at the moment.
“We want to keep building our young talent, but we are two points behind Cardy sitting fifth, and if we can win all our games, we are every chance of grabbing fourth spot.
“Unfortunately, the last two weeks haven’t helped us, as we planned to make some ground, but that’s how it goes.
“We are hopeful of making finals and anything can happen.”
Emerald put up a respectable showing in front of a large crowd celebrating the Bombers’ 125-year celebration, finishing on 9/227 after a solid half century to Trent Rolfs (67).
Kooweerup also kept up its clinical form as it builds a solid line of form heading into finals, with Cardinia providing a late scare before the Demons steadied.
There was plenty of feeling out in the middle between the two bitter rivals, with Demons skipper Mark Cooper sending Alex Nooy’s men to face the music.
Jess Mathers (4/17) set the tone early to remove Ben Parrott (2), but by drinks, the Bulls steadied to be in a solid position for a competitive score.
Nooy (72) played a lone hand in his side’s quest at a major scalp, playing a classy knock to help lift the Bulls to 165, a total Cooper was pleased to walk away with.
The skipper himself struck 49; to take his tally to 433 at an average of 86.6; as the Demons walked away with a hard fought two wicket win, after some late wickets added a bit of drama.
“This is the time of the year where we have to step it up a bit more and play with more intensity, so I thought we did that for the majority of the game, but it was positive signs,” he said.
“Cardy are a competitive team and we needed to stand up.
“At drinks they probably had the upper hand with only two wickets down, but once we took a few wickets and got the result of 165, we thought it was really gettable.
“We weren’t in complete control with the bat, but probably had more control with the ball; we lost a few late wickets which probably evened it up in the end, but we felt we had enough wickets in the shed to get the result.”
But in a tight win, Cooper saw a silver lining, with many of the club’s brightest young talents stepping up to the plate with the bat after being briefly threatened.
“We had a good little partnership at the end with Lachie Ramage; who is 17; and Mitch Davey (16); and they went really well, and then Jack Bacon hit the winning runs, and he’s 17 as well,” he said.
“From that perspective it’s a positive and we did mention that after the game, because in finals anything can happen.”
With three games left to play before the finals get underway, Cooper said it’s now about his side playing with the intensity that makes the champion unit they are.
“It’s now about finding form, and getting back to two day cricket is a big step in itself; we’ve had five one dayers in a row, and two day cricket feels like a long time ago,” he said.
“We’re trying to flick that switch, and trying to get back into two day cricket, and set that standard heading towards finals.”
In the rounds other two matches, Pakenham (218) inflicted Tooradin (200) with its first loss of the season, while an incredible 7/22 from Nick Sadler wasn’t enough for Clyde (9/152) to stave off an inspired Merinda Park (153) outfit.