DDCA: The players who are shaping the Turf 1, 2 and 3 season

And the contenders and stars are starting to emerge.

We’ve identified the players shaping the Turf 1, 2 and 3 season.

TURF 1

Lee Brown, Hallam Kalora Park

Brown propelled up the wicket-takers list with a haul of 6-26 against North Dandenong on Saturday. The spinner has 12 wickets to date this summer at an average of 12.

Jake Cronin, Buckley Ridges

The Buckley Ridges opener has made a reasonable start with the bat, recording 124 runs at an average of 31, but he has been really impressive with the gloves — holding onto a competition-high 11 catches.

Mitch Forsyth, Springvale South

Forsyth is second in Springvale South’s run-scorers with 206 at an average of 52. The opener already has three half-centuries to his name.

Matthew Hague, Berwick

Hague has shown great consistency at the top of the Bears’ order, scoring 222 runs at an average of 44. Like Forsyth, he has three fifties.

Jordan Hammond, Hallam Kalora Park

The all-rounder is impossible to keep out of the game. When he doesn’t fire with the bat, he does with the ball. Hammond has 11 wickets at 15 for the ladder-leading Hawks.

Jake Hancock, Berwick

Hancock has 50 or more in two of his four hits this season. He guided Berwick to an important win over Narre South with 109 on Saturday.

Venuk Hemachandra, Dandenong West

The Bulls bat has already boosted his side with a ton and a fifty this summer. Hemachandra is averaging 57, lifted by a score of 121, in Dandenong West wins.

Ishan Jayarathna, Buckley Ridges

Jayarathna leads the competition for wickets with 15 at a tidy average of 11. He’s taken two six-wicket hauls already, running through Berwick and North Dandenong.

Nuwan Kulasekara, Dandenong West

The former Sri Lankan international is on his way to another fine Dandenong District season. He has 143 runs and 14 wickets just six matches into the season. If the Bulls are to play finals, Kulasekara’s season would have likely remained on its current trajectory.

Ashan Madhushanka Walgamage, Beaconsfield

The all-rounder is contributing heavily with bat and ball. He has added 115 runs at 23 and taken the equal most wickets in the competition (15).

Jeevan Mendis, Narre South

Mendis is having his say on the Turf 1 season yet again. He has 226 runs at 75, including a ton and a half-century.

Mahela Udawatte, Hallam Kalora Park

Udawatte has hit a purple patch in the past three weeks, hitting three consecutive half centuries to push his season total to 206.

Jordan Wyatt, Springvale South

The reigning Wookey Medal winner has raced to 273 runs at an average of 68, highlighted by an unbeaten century on Saturday. Wyatt packed in eight fours and eight sixes into his 59-ball 102 against Buckley Ridges. It was Wyatt’s fourth career ton for the Bloods.

TURF 2

Duveen Sasindu Arachchige, St Mary’s

The opener has struck three half-centuries for the Saints this summer for a return of 206 runs. Arachchige has passed 23 four of the five times he’s batted this year.

Mackenzie Gardner, HSD

Gardner has gathered 283 runs at an average of 71, highlighted by a brilliant 140no off 126 balls against Narre Warren. He hit Cranbourne around for 65 at a good clip, too.

Triyan De Silva, HSD

The left-hander fell painfully short of a century on Saturday with 97 against St Mary’s. Pairing that innings with 79 against Coomoora a fortnight ago, De Silva has 229 runs at 46. He has also taken a wicket in each innings this year with the ball.

Satheesh Sivakumaran Fernandu, Parkmore Pirates

A duck a fortnight ago is the only blemish on the Pirate’s golden form guide this summer. He’s hit 227 runs at 45, including scores of 51, 35, 63 and 78. He hasn’t had as much success with the ball but still has four wickets to his name.

Marty Kelly, Cranbourne

Kelly has sent 12 batters packing at an average of 11 this summer, including multiple wickets on three of a possible five occasions.

Sakuntha Liyanage, HSD

Liyanage has grabbed his 12 wickets in his past four matches. Taking away a spell of 0-22 in the first game of the year, his wicket-filled month has come at an average of 12.

Malan Madusanka, Coomoora

Madusanka leads the Turf 2 wicket tally with 16 at an average of 14. He’s taken multiple wickets in every appearance this season, boosted by 4-15 against St Mary’s.

Amila Ratnaike, Narre Warren

The Narre Warren star is in fabulous form. He’s hit back-to-back centuries which have come after two earlier fifties. Ratnaike, who’s second-lowest score for the year is 74, has raced to 379 runs at an average of 95.

Ankit Saxena, Parkmore Pirates

Saxena has snared multiple wickets in each of his five outings including three or more in four. He has 15 wickets at an average of nine.

Har saroup Singh, Cranbourne

Singh has started his season with 15 wickets at an average of 16. He has contributed each week with the ball, led by a spell of 4-19 against Lyndale.

TURF 3

Shalika Karunanayake, Berwick Springs

The Titans coach continues to be influential with bat and ball. Starting the season with scores of 78 and 55, he’s also been pivotal with the ball, boasting a season-best of 4-39.

Travis Lacey, Hampton Park

Can score heavily in the Lions top order and has already racked up 175 runs including a half-century this season.

Christo Otto, Keysborough

The matchwinning all-rounder has had a terrific start to the season, scoring 204 runs at 51 and taking 16 wickets at 10.5 to fire Keysy to second spot.

Surya Pratap, Fountain Gate

With clever variations and sheer class, the left-arm spinner has taken 19 wickets at 5.95, including hauls of 4-20, 6-12 and 3-19.

Harkanwal Singh, Silverton

Has played a starring role in Silverton’s impressive start to the season. He leads the competition wickets chart with 21 at an average of 9.

Jatinder Singh, Lynbrook

Has been a dominant force with bat and ball for the Lakers, blasting 159 runs at 39.7 and taking 17 wickets at 6.7.

Karan Singh, Fountain Gate

The Gators vice-captain has been a shining light, scoring 173 runs at 34, including a brilliant 81 against Lynbrook. And he’s been impressive behind the stumps with 11 catches and two stumpings.

James Wright, Keysborough

The new ball bowler ripped through the Doveton top order to take 5-29, continuing a splendid season in which he’s already up to 13 wickets at 10.9.

Anmol Zakhmi, Silverton

The powerful right-hander played the innings of the season against Hampton Park, blasting 157 not out. He leads the competition runs chart with 229 at 57.

Originally published as DDCA: The players who are shaping the Turf 1, 2 and 3 season