Thilan Samaraweera to step out for Berwick Cricket Club

Friday, 8 November 2013 07:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Herald Sun: FORMER Sri Lankan Test batsman Thilan Samaraweera is set to play a Twenty20 match for Berwick in the Dandenong and District Cricket Association. The club has listed the heavy-scoring right-hander as its T20 marquee player. Samaraweera is staying with family in the Berwick area and his brother-in-law, Bathiya Perera, is the Bears’ overseas player this season.

Berwick coach Jarrod Goodes said the club was excited to register Samaraweera. “Obviously it’s not every day you get a player of his calibre,’’ Goodes said. “Nothing is locked in yet - it all depends what he’s got on - but he definitely will play a game for us.’’ Samaraweera, 37, played the last of his 81 Test matches against Australian in Sydney in January, finishing his career with 5462 runs at an average of 48.76. There were 14 centuries and 30 half-centuries. Perera has made a sparkling start to 2013-14, following up his 183 against Coomoora with an unbeaten 101 off 59 deliveries in last Monday’s Twenty20 match Narre Warren and its marquee player Brendan Fevola. Goodes said the century against Coomoora was as good as a celebrated knock by former Bear Chris Underwood about 10 years ago. “There wasn’t a false stroke,’’ he said. Perera played 166 first-class matches in Sri Lanka, peeling off 8254 runs at 35.88, with a highest score of 220 not out. A host of Premier players are registered for DDCA Twenty20, including star Dandenong opener Brett Forsyth and Casey South Melbourne captain Jolyon Leaver.