Tara Murray
Darley’s hopes of returning to the top of the Ballarat Cricket Association have received a boost with a number of key players recommitting to the club.
The Lions, who finished runners-up to Golden Point last season, announced the re-signings of Danza Hyatt, Madushanka Ekanayake, Dilan Chandima and Hasitha Wickramasinghe in recent days.
In a social media post, the coach Brian Wheelahan said that Hyatt was keen to return to Australia. He had to leave after round 12 last season.
“Former West Indian International Danza Hyatt has made his intentions clear ahead of the 2022-23 BCA Season, re-committing to Darley after post COVID visa issues forced the star all-rounder back to his hometown Jamaica,” the post said.
“Hyatt looms as an ominous proposition at the top of the Lions batting order, and his signature alone, this far out from the new season will be unsettling for rival bowling attacks.”
Hyatt averaged 49 with the bat last season and took 12 wickets at an average of 14.5.
Ekanayake will be back to lead the Lions bowling attack for a third straight season. Wheelahan said that Ekanayake was still hurting from last season’s grand final loss.
‘Ekka’, put simply, is a bona-fide match winner starring with 30+ wicket returns in his first two seasons with the club,” the club said on social media.
“The former Sri Lankan under-19 International has the full respect of the wider competition and has been a popular personality around the place with his friendly nature and genuine love for cricket.”
The Lions speedster has taken 70 wickets @14.5 in his 39 games with the club.
Chandima made an instant impact in his first season at the Lions, winning the league best and fairest award, the Clearly Medal.
He made 898 runs at an average of 64 including four fifties and three hundreds.
Wickramasinghe, has been a key all-rounder for the Lions for a number of years and had his best season with the bat last season.
The signings come following Wheelahan previously re-commiting to the club for another season. In his time, the club has won two premierships and finished runners-up once.
