By Justin Schwarze
Officer opening batter Chathura Imbulagoda is now firmly entrenched in the history books at Rob Porter Reserve after an incredible knock of 234 not out against Emerald.
The innings caps off a fantastic season for Imbulagoda, who will almost certainly finish as District’s top runscorer.
The score is a personal high; and also an Officer ‘Club Record’, further immortalising the performance.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity that the club’s given me; they’ve put a lot of trust in me,” Imbulagoda said.
“I’m really happy to come good and have a really good season.”
Imbulagoda finishes the home-and-away season with 754 runs, a remarkable achievement, over 100 runs more than his nearest challenger.
In two day matches, he has an unbelievable average of 94.1.
“I know with the way that I bat, I just need to spend time at the crease, so I was just really focused on not going out,” he said.
“It was a goal of mine this year to make a double ton, but it was a far off goal.
“I’m just really pleased, because I’m 36, so I’ve played plenty of cricket in my time, so it’s great to finally come good.
“To score that big…it’s rewarding.”
The score helped the Bullants to massive total of 7/420, their highest this season.
Imbulagoda batted the entire 80 overs, hitting 29 boundaries, including 24 fours and five sixes.
“My job is really just to hold up an end, so I was just really being focused on doing my role and playing my part in the team,” he stated.
“I’m naturally an aggressive batter, so it’s not so much about trying to be aggressive, but just being positive and all the while being conscious of the value of my wicket.
“At Emerald, it’s such a nice ground and runs come by so easily, so all I had to do was spend time.
“It was just about not throwing away my wicket, and going as deep as possible into the 80.”
Imbulagoda has played a massive role in Officer being top placed in the CCCA District competition, with the side set to host a semi-final in two weeks’ time.
With Kuldeep Sidhu adding 66 and skipper Cooper Pursell also raising the bat for a half-century, the Bullants boast a deep, well-rounded batting unit.
“It just goes to show the depth that we have,” Imbulagoda said.
“We have a really talented side; we’ve got batters who can score runs quickly.
“We’ve got a really flexible and really diverse side, especially with the bowling as well.
“It’s really cool to be able to come together and showcase what we can actually do; so just pumped for everyone really.”
The next step is finals as Officer seeks to get revenge after last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss to Upper Beaconsfield.
But for Imbulagoda, the innings is an amazing highlight in his career and a remarkable way to end the regular season.
“To finally do it (score 200) is really rewarding and all the hours in the nets playing cricket, training, has just paid off and it makes me feel it was all worth it,” he said.
“It was just pure relief, joy and ecstasy and a weight off my shoulders.”
