By David Nagel
CCCA PREMIER DIVISION – SEASON PREVIEW
CARLISLE PARK
2022/23: 5th – 4 wins
President: Aaron Straughair
Coach: Ben Perry
Captain: Ben Perry
Ins: Ryan Hughes (All-rounder), Shakila Perera (All-rounder), Hasitha Jayasuria (Opening bat).
Outs: Shalika Karunanayake, Anurudda Fonseka, Mahie Bodahandi, Videsh Dassanayake, Buddhi Wijayawardena.
Leading run scorers: Shalika Karunanayake (461), Anurudda Fonseka (460), Ben Perry (408), Videsh Dassanayake (217), Mahie Bodahandi (198).
Leading wicket-takers: Senal De Silva (28), Ben Perry (19), Kasun Balasuriya (15), Shalika Karunanayake (5), Mahie Bodahandi (4).
We Say:
Expect a new-look Vikings outfit to take to the field when Ben Perry’s boys host Tooradin in round one of the CCCA Premier Division on Saturday. The Vikings will need to find new ways of scoring runs, with Perry (408 runs) the only player returning from the top-five run-scorers from last year. Shalika Karunanayake (461), Anurudda Fonseka (460), Videsh Dassanayake (217) and Mahie Bodahandi (198) are all missing after contributing a whopping 1336 runs. Perry had a standout first season at the Vikings, chipping in with 19 wickets to boot. But the Vikings bowling line-up was brittle last year, with Senal De Silva (28 wickets), Perry, and Kasun Balasuriya (15) the only bowlers to take double-figure wickets last season. The Vikings have strengthened that area of their game with all-rounders Ryan Hughes and Shalika Perera expected to bowl plenty of overs, especially in two-day cricket. Perry looms as the player most likely for the Vikings, but it will be interesting to see what they have under the hood, with key components missing from the engine-room that helped finish top-five in 2022/23. Expect lots of new faces, and Perry to rubber-stamp his claim as one of the best all-rounders in the competition.
Prediction: 8th – Tooradin, Pakenham, Kooweerup, Devon Meadows, Cardinia, Merinda Park, Clyde, CARLISLE PARK
