Tara Murray
Darley star Dilan Chandima was left stunned after claiming the Ballarat Cricket Association’s top individual honour on Monday night.
Chandima, who is in his first season at the club and in the competition, won the EJ Cleary Medal, for the best player in the first grade competition by one vote.
Chandima finished on 22 votes, one clear of Sajith Dissanayaka. Fellow Lion Danza Hyatt finished equal seventh despite missing the back end of the season.
Chandima is just the second Lions player to win the award.
Matt Cape shared the award in 2012-13, before winning it for a second time the following season.
Chandima said he was left speechless when he was presented with the award.
“It’s my first year in the competition,” he said. “I didn’t have any expectations. I got the medal on stage and when I went to express myself, I was speechless.
“It took me some time to speak to the audience as I was really nervous as I didn’t expect it.”
Chandima said it took him some time to get going this season, having played on hard wicket the last couple of seasons.
He said the pull to play with Hasitha Wickramasinghe and Madushanka Ekanayaka was the reason to come across to the Lions. The trio had played a lot of cricket together and against each other growing up in Sri Lanka.
“I had a pretty good season,” he said.
“I was pretty nervous the first two or three games as I hadn’t played on turf for a while after growing up playing on turf.
“It took me two or three games to get my batting style back.”
Chandima has scored 879 runs this season at an average of 67.62. He has also taken 21 wickets.
The best and fairest award is a second straight one for Chandima. He won the Sullivan Medal in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association in 2020-21 while playing for Sunbury United.
Chandima said he couldn’t compare the two seasons.
“To say one is better than the other… I say they are both milestones.
“They are totally different competitions. One was 40 over cricket the other was 50 over cricket. In the GDCA we played 12 games, this year we’ve played 18 games.
“I’m proud to win this medal.”
The medal is the start of a big week for Chandima and his teammates. The side is aiming for a third straight premiership.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
In other awards Madushanka Ekanayaka claimed the best bowling performance.
