Tara Murray
Melton South Royals’ Sameera Vithana’s first season at the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 5 club has been capped off with a player of the year award.
Vithana, who joined the Royals for Haig Fawkner, was named the Russell Pollock medallist, polling 53 votes, as the best player in that division.
Vithana made 438 runs for the season at an average of 31.29, while also taking 39 wickets at an average of 13.
Vithana said it was nice to be recognised for his season.
“I was happy to see,” he said. “I was pleased with my performance but I was disappointed to lose the semi final.
“It was a really hard season. I’m honoured to win it.”
It’s the first time that Vithana has claimed a VTCA player of the year award.
He finished runners up in the Tony Isaacs Medal in 2013-14 when he played with West Coburg. Vithana also finished fourth in the Russell Pollock Medal in 2019-20 while with Moonee Valley.
The allrounder was named in the team of the year for 2022-23, the second time he has received that honour, having achieved it at Jacana.
Vithana said he had loved his time at the Royals.
“I’ll play again there next year,” he said.
“The club has been very good, the members and president have been a big support for me.
“I wanted to share my experience with the guys having played at a higher level.”
Vithana is already keen to get to work to help the team go at least one step further and make the grand final, which would ensure promotion.
He said that was the continued aim of the side, having been in the mix the last few seasons.
Vithana’s Royals teammate Thiwanka Kekulawala was also named in the team of the year as opener.
Melton Centrals’ Hashan Chamarea was named in the team, while Matthew Saunders was named captain of the team of the year.
Sydenham-Hillside premiership players Ishan Peiris, Anthony Alleyne and Gayashan Weerasekara were named in the division 1 team of the year.
In division 3, Caroline Springs’ Suri Gurpreet was named in the team of the year.
In the women’s competition, Caroline Springs’ Caitlin Pretty was the runaway winner.
Pretty was named in the team of the year alongside Alisha Fowler and Myyen Au. Fowler, who captained the Falcons premiership team, was named captain of that team.
Burnside Heights’ Jaime Bradley was also named in the team of the year.
