Runs flow after 2013-14 dry spell for classy Creek batsman

By Aidan Fawkes
November 1 2014 - 4:00am
Russells Creek batsman Jayaweera Bandara hits the nets. 141030DW52 Picture: DAMIAN WHITE
Russells Creek batsman Jayaweera Bandara hits the nets. 141030DW52 Picture: DAMIAN WHITE

JAYAWEERA Bandara had a self-confessed “shocking” season with the bat last summer.

So bad, the Russells Creek veteran tallied 100 runs in eight trips to the crease in Warrnambool and District Cricket Association’s division one.

His Twenty20 tournament statistics — 128 runs in six innings — were better. But when the serious stuff came around, Bandara was found wanting.

“I’ve never had a year like that before,” he said. “It was one of those bad years. These things happen,” he said this week.

The wayward form was a combination of bad luck, poor form and an inability to string regular matches together.

His son Dominic was vying for selection in Victoria’s 12 and under squad, forcing him to miss matches to travel across Victoria.

Bandara, 44, started to question whether cricket had gone past him. But his passion for the game made retirement out of the question.

“I thought, I don’t want to give in. I thought I’d fight through and come back,” he said.

Russells Creek is glad he did. Bandara has scored 106 in three Twenty20 matches to open the WDCA season, losing his wicket just once.

His 24 in round one was match-defining in a low-scoring clash against Woodford.

He top scored for Creek with 43 not out in a loss to East Warrnambool-YCW and followed up with 39 not out against Port Fairy last weekend.

“Since I was a kid I’ve loved cricket. When summer comes, we always played cricket,” Bandara said.

“I want to keep playing and keep encouraging Dom. I’d like to play one game with him in seniors.”

Creek coach Matt Ansell said he was pleased Bandara had rediscovered the form which won him WDCA cricketer of the year honours in 2012-13.

“We’re very happy with how Bundy is going at the moment. He’s working hard and he’s hitting the ball in the middle,” he said.

“His last three digs, he hasn’t missed out. His class has really come to the fore. He basically made us win on Saturday.

“He’s one of those guys, if they bat any sort of time they score. Walker is the same, (Nathan) Divall is the same, (Kyle) Humphrys is the same.”

Ansell is rapt with Creek’s 2-1 start to the season. He put the change in fortunes down to a transformed atmosphere at the club.

“I think when you haven’t been involved for a long time, you come in with a fresh attitude and you don’t pigeon hole blokes,” he said.

“All of them know if they’re not in form they’ll go to the seconds.

“And likewise the guys in the seconds, if they play well and there’s a spot available, I’m going to give them a go.

“A lot of guys who have been around the club for a long time say ‘he’s just a thirds player’ or ‘he can’t play first grade’. That doesn’t worry me.”

Russells Creek takes on East Warrnambool-YCW at Jones Oval today in the pick of the Merri conference matches.

Elsewhere, Wesley-CBC welcomes Port Fairy to Walter Oval and West Warrnambool hosts Woodford at Davidson Oval.

Dennington takes on Merrivale at Dennington Recreation Reserve in the pick of the Hopkins conference action. Allansford meets Brierly-Christ Church at Uebergang Oval, while Nirranda plays Nestles at Nirranda Recreation Reserve.


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