Pubudu Fernando and Weranga Bulathwala played key roles on the weekend as the Broncos landed their opening wins of the 2018-19 Warrnambool District Cricket Association (WDCA) season. The Broncos defeated Wesley-CBC and West Warrnambool in a Twenty20 double-header on Saturday.

Bulathwala made 69 in the win over West Warrnambool while Fernando made a weekend double of 58 and 54. He also chipped in with the ball, claiming 3-19 against the Panthers.  

East Warrnambool-YCW batsman, president and former coach Luke Smith believes the Sri Lankans are elite WDCA players.   

"I thought they both should have been selected in the country week squad, it was a bit disappointing they weren't," Smith said.

"Fernando is a very steady bat, he will enjoy the extra time that comes with two-day cricket and is someone we can build a score and bat 80 overs around.

“He would also be in the top two best fieldsmen in the competition. He is uncanny with his fielding and his catching, he’s just so explosive and loves running balls down and launching himself for catches.

"Bul (Bulathwala) loves to make quick runs but we have been working with him to be more selective and not to give his wicket away." 

Smith said he was looking forward to the upcoming two-day games.

He said a new-found belief would be a positive by-product from the Twenty20 wins.  

"We have Nestles this week and if we can knock over two or three of their top order then we can be right in it," Smith said.

"Getting wins on the weekend will give the boys the confidence to know they are good enough to compete against the rest of the competition. It is a matter of realising what we can achieve if we bowl and field well and value our wicket when we are batting."