You can imagine the look of sheer disbelief on Nushan Weerasinghe's face when an Eastlake selector told him they had recruited a Sri Lankan by the name of Akeel Inham.
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It couldn't be the same one, could it? A few Instagram messages later and Weerasinghe had his answer - another former Sri Lankan under 19s representative was coming to Canberra.
Eastlake will look to shore up a place in the top four when they meet Western District-UC in the final round of the Cricket ACT John Gallop Cup at Jamison Oval on Saturday.
They're a long way from home where they first crossed paths and Eastlake's Sri Lankan prospects will have a huge role to play, albeit in a tag-team they never thought possible.
"We actually played school cricket since we were 15 and afterwards we got to know each other when we were playing for the under 19s in Sri Lanka," Weerasinghe said.
"I came here for studies mainly, last July, then I got to know about Eastlake and I decided to play. One of our selectors told me Akeel is coming over from Sri Lanka for this season.
"We contacted each other, and it was quite surprising to be honest."
Inham has eight first class caps to his name to go with 10 limited overs appearances but the 22-year-old says his only focus is helping Eastlake to succeed this season.
Having a familiar face around town doesn't hurt either.
"I didn’t know he was here, randomly I saw him. My brother said one other Sri Lankan is playing. I said 'I know him'," Inham said.
"We were playing from the school days, under 15s to under 19s. I had met him from those days, we are good friends since we met, and he is a good batsman as well.
"We are getting experience over here, facing good fast bowlers."
Weerasinghe would love nothing more than a few other Sri Lankans to come and test themselves in Cricket ACT's premier competition in the future.
He will be in the capital territory for a few years yet given he is completing a bachelor's degree at the University of Canberra, but concedes most Sri Lankans that head down under find themselves in Melbourne.
While the Sri Lankan prospects look to secure a top four spot, Queanbeyan can potentially force their way into the finals picture should they account for the winless North Canberra-Gungahlin at Harrison Oval.
Traditional powerhouse Tuggeranong Valley will look to claim the minor premiership when they meet defending champions Weston Creek Molonglo at Stirling Oval.
Ginninderra will host ANU to round out the one-day regular season before the two-day Douglas Cup campaign begins next week.
Meanwhile, the ACT/NSW Country Comets slumped to their first defeat of the Futures League season with an agonising 18-run loss to Victoria at the Junction Oval this week.
Chasing 414 to win in the fourth innings, Henry Hunt scored a spirited 98 but it wasn't enough as the Comets folded for 396 - a remarkable chase nonetheless to add to a memorable clash featuring Tom Engelbrecht's 5-14 in the first innings.
CRICKET ACT GALLOP CUP ROUND SEVEN
Saturday: Ginninderra v ANU at Kippax Oval, Weston Creek Molonglo v Tuggeranong Valley at Stirling Oval, North Canberra-Gungahlin v Queanbeyan at Harrison Oval, Western District-UC v Eastlake at Jamison Oval.
