By David Nagel
What an exciting team the CCCA District Mid-Season Team of the Year would be with a five-pronged pace attack mixed with a very hard-hitting batting order.
It’s a mouth-watering prospect, with a mix of grit and determination also thrown in with bat and ball to help balance the ledger.
Here’s the starting XI we’ve selected from performances prior to Christmas.
Chathura Imbulagoda – Officer
468 runs at 93.6. High Scores: 150, 101, 97
He’s not only at the top of the order, but also the first player picked in the CCCA District Division Mid-Season Team of the Year. Imbulagoda has had a magnificent season to date, scoring 138 more runs than any other player in the comp, with individual scores of 150, 101 and 97 giving an indication of his fire-power. His Officer captain Cooper Pursell admits it is Imbulagoda’s deeds at the top of the order that have provided the platform for some huge post-tea batting sessions this season.
Michael Nell – Emerald
254 runs at 36.29. High Scores: 97, 77*
If we picked this team with recency bias in mind, then Nell would not be selected. His recent form has dropped away, making it easy to forget that his season started with scores of 97, 43 and 77 not out. Aside from Imbulagoda, that’s a run of form that nobody can match across three innings, and the reason why he opens the batting with ‘Chad’ in the MSTOTY. Nell will also take the gloves.
Kasun Balasuriya – Carlisle Park
310 runs at 62. High Scores: 119*, 80
Only three players have made more than 300 runs in District Division this season, and Kasun is one of them. Started the season poorly, with 60 runs at an average of 20 across his first four games, but has quickly made amends. Has scores of 119 not out, 25, 80 and 26 across his last four hits to be one of the in-form players in the competition.
Ash Smith – Officer
174 runs at 58. High Scores: 61, 50*
It would be quite easy to pick his Officer teammate Jaswinder Gill ahead of him, but we’ve selected the former Bullants’ skipper for his rock-solid temperament through the middle order. Imbulagoda and Gill have come out blazing this season, allowing Smith to play his more defensive game throughout the mid to latter overs. Has put together consecutive knocks of 43, 61 and 50 not out to prove himself one of the most reliable players in District.
Oshadha Ariyadasa – Lang Lang
266 runs at 33.25. High Scores: 88, 75
The Lang Lang skipper has been the standout batter for his team this season, although his recent form has lacked a little consistency. Really delivered when the Swamp Tigers needed him most in rounds three (88) and five (75), with those two knocks almost guaranteeing him a place in this year’s team. He has also made three solid starts, all in the 20s…so his post-Christmas prospects look promising as well.
Syed Akbar Shah – PUT
330 runs at 55. High Scores: 101, 100*
6 wickets at 25.5. Best Bowling: 2/31
Wow, where did this bloke come from! He was simmering along okay with 101 runs from his first four hits before he exploded into action in rounds six and seven. His highest score of 101 included eight boundaries and 10 sixes, before backing that up with 100 not out from just 82 balls against Carlisle Park. Shah hit an incredible 154 runs in boundaries or sixes across both innings. Handy to have at number six!
Cooper Pursell – Officer
15 wickets at 16.93. Best Bowling: 4/19
103 runs at 103. High Score: 72*
Seems to be flying under the radar compared to his usual standards, but the Officer skipper still has serious claims to being the number-one all-rounder in District Division this season. Has taken 15 wickets, without really hitting his straps, while his 72 not out in a fiery clash against NNG/Maryknoll reminded us all of just how good this bloke could be. Already deserves his place; but our tip is he will dominate in both forms of the game after Christmas.
Devon Gabriel-Brown – Officer
17 wickets at 12.35. Best Bowling: 7/16
Much like a batter making a double-century, one performance in particular has earned Gabriel-Brown his spot in the starting XI. His combined figures against Lang Lang in round four were 11/41 from 20 overs, which included seven maidens. Has also taken multiple wickets in his last two games and is looming large come finals.
Raja Sadiq – PUT
23 wickets at 12.65. Best Bowling: 6/20
How can you leave out the number-one wicket-taker in the competition, with 23 wickets to his name? The Yabbies are proving a tough nut to crack this season and Sadiq is a major reason why. He has two six-wicket hauls to his name and has also taken two wickets on five other occasions. His partnership with Ben McLeod could take the Yabbies to the Promised Land this season!
Jaan Balasuriya – Carlisle Park
20 wickets at 12.35. Best Bowling: 5/64
Balasuriya is the only bowler in District to have taken a one-fa, two-fa, three-fa, four-fa and five-fa in 2024/25. Has been remarkably consistent, shouldering the bulk of the Vikings’ bowling load. Has dangerous pace and a well-disguised short ball that often catches batters unaware. Is the key to the Vikings maintaining their current fourth-placed ranking.
Ben McLeod – PUT
18 wickets at 13.72. Best Bowling: 5/43
One of our favourites at the Gazette who played lower grades for some time before reapplying himself and now showing what he is genuinely made of. Is not quick, but is very accurate and disciplined with his attack, forcing opposition batters into mistake. Has a big heart and will not take a backward step in finals.
