Sport
5 November, 2025
Century for Tigers import
A CENTURY on Simpson debut for Sri Lankan import Chathura Malluwa Wadu has led the Tigers to a seven wicket win over Ecklin in the round three Colac-South West premier cricket competition match.
The match was transferred to the Timboon High School Oval, with the Ecklin ground struggling to come up due to the recent rain.
Ecklin skipper Jamie Dewell won the toss and elected to bat - the Frogs dismissed for 210 in the 46th over.
Batting at nine, an unbeaten 39 from 26 balls to Sohaib Shahid gave Ecklin a competitive score to defend.
Mark Fraser with 35, Harry Carter with 27 and Stuart Timms with 26 were the other main contributors.
“We were thinking 250 to 300 was par on that ground, it is small and quick,” Simpson captain Jackson Rock said.
“We were stoked to keep them to that score, for a while it looked like we’d restrict them to under 200 but their bottom order did bat well.”
For Simpson, Kris Ackerly, Chathura Malluwa Wadu and Jackson Rock took two wickets each, Rock particularly miserly, conceding just 14 runs from his 10 overs.
“The ball came out well, I was just happy to tie them up and keep it tight,” Rock said.
After losing opener Nick Harding for 14, Chathura Malluwa Wadu and Tom Weel put on 91 for the second wicket to put Simpson firmly in control.
After Weel was dismissed for 42 from 55 balls, Ben Smith scored 32 from 43.
“Tom has looked really good the first two weeks without making a score, it was really good to see him go on to get a few.
“Ben played with a bit more freedom on Saturday and looked really good.”
But it was Wadu, playing his first game for the Tigers, who was the star.
Known as ‘Sammy’, the Sri Lankan guided the Tigers to victory with 100 not out from 110 balls, with eight boundaries.
“Sammy just made everyone bat well around him, he played properly, good cricket shots and pushed hard between the wickets.”
For Ecklin, Harry Carter took 2/56 from 9.3 overs, with Stuart Timms taking the other wicket to fall.
“It was good just to get that first win, there’s a good feel around the club,” Rock said.
This week’s matches see Simpson host Irrewarra at Simpson, while Ecklin play Bookaar at Frederick St.
“Irrewarra will be a really good test, they’re a team we don’t know much about so we’re excited for the contest.”
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