By Tara Murray
Point Cook Centrals’ opener Rasanjana Jayarathna was rewarded for his strong Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield season sharing the player of the year award.
Jayarathna in his second season with the club shared the division’s top honour with Gellibrand’s Jacob Macdonald.
Jayarathna said it was really good to share the award.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and it’s very good,” he said. “I was very happy [with how he played].
“We were unlucky not to get the championship as well, hopefully next year.”
Jayarathna made 447 for the season at an average of 26.69 while also taking three wickets.
He said that he had always been an opening batter since under-13s.
Having joined the club from East Keilor for the 2023-24 season, the Sri Lankan said he loved being involved in his home club.
“It’s a really good club and really good people,” he said. “They always support me and I love it down there.”
Jayarathna thanked his wife, family and the club for helping get the medal.
He said stepping up into division 3 this season was really good.
“It was more competitive and hard working,” he said. “It was really good.”
Sharks’ Brett Talbot said he thought it was the first men’s competition best and fairest award for the club.
He said Jayarathna was a key player in what they were doing.
“He has been one of our better players,” he said. “He won our player of the year last season.
“He’s just an exciting top order batsmen who really values his wicket and bats time in the middle.
“He loves being out there.”
Talbot said they didn’t expect Jayarathna to win the medal, having missed a few games when he went back to Sri Lanka.
It was a nice reward for him too.
“He’s a big part of the future of the club,” he said. “He is one of our leaders and best players.”
Having fallen in the semi finals, Jayarathna already has his eyes on next season and winning the premiership.
Sharks teammate Krishan Alang finished equal third in the player of the year.
Jayarathna was named as an opener in the team of the year.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Bellbridge’s Hendro Dias shared the player of the year award with Melton South Royals’ Praveen De Silva.
Werribee Centrals Tarique Jeffrey finished equal third.
Dias and Jeffrey were named in the team of the year alongside Centrals’ Luke Simpson and Bellbridge skipper Dillon Hinge.
Elsewhere, Wyndham Vale’s Jay Dolliver finished second in the Russell Pollock player of the year.
Dolliver was named in the team of the year as well.
