Tara Murray
Yarraville Club all rounder Chinthaka Jayasinghe has been named the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s top player, winning the Roy Paxino Medal.
Jayasinghe, who joined the Clubbers for the 2022-23 season, had an outstanding season scoring 500 runs, including two centuries, while taking five wickets, including a hat trick.
Clubbers coach Mitch Johnstone said Jayasinghe continues to perform each week and a worthy winner of the senior division best and fairest medal.
“Our presentation night was the same night,” he said. “We sent CJ along as we knew that he had won.
“We didn’t want to give it away, so we said he was one of the placegetters and that he had made the team of the year.
“It’s a fair effort for him to win it at his age [45].”
Johnstone said Jayasinghe doesn’t give away much and is fairly level headed when it comes to achievements.
He had previously been named the Tony Isaac Shield’s best player in 2018-19. The shield used to be one of the two division 1 competitions.
“It’s the latest in a long list of accolades for him in his career,” Johnstone said. “It’s a testament to him and the talent in the competition.
“He’s huge with the other Sri Lankans in the competition and they all look up to him.”
Johnstone said when they seemed to play well last season, Jayasinghe was at the forefront of those performances.
Jayasinghe, who has represented his country internationally, has already signed on for next season.
Michael Hill, Sangaran Nandhalal and Johnstone were also named in the team of the year for senior division.
Johnstone said his two teammates had pretty good seasons and was no surprise to see them named in the team.
He said it was bittersweet though.
“We’d trade it in for a premiership,” he said. “We would have rather have no one in the team of the year.
“It was nice to get recognised though.”
The Clubbers have been busy in the off season already as they look to build on the semi final performance of last season.
Former premier bowler Matt Doric has joined the club and will be a strike bowler, while Josh Eaton will give them a point of difference.
Viraj Lakshitha has also joined the club
On the other side they’ve lost Nathan Johnson, due to the player points situation, while Jackson Martin has gone to premier cricket and Mathieson King has gone to Burnside Springs United.
Johnstone said they were unsure about Allister Powell. and Ash Sweet.
