KWAZULU-NATAL Coastals wicket-keeper batsman Jason Oakes walked away with the coveted KNZCU Player of the Season award at the KZNCU and Durban and District Cricket Union (DDCU) Awards at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium this month.
Having played a crucial part in the KZN Coastals’ first ever Sunfoil 3 Day Cup title victory, Oakes’ season culminated in a debut for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in their Sunfoil Series clash with the Warriors in March this year.
Despite scoring 333 runs at an average of 47.57, with a top score of 102 through the first class season, Oakes heaped praise on his fellow championship winning team mates who he felt were hugely influential on him winning this award.
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“I could only score the runs I did because of the batsman I had around me and because I faced arguably the best bowling attack in the country at every practice session. Everyone wanted to put up their hand every game, and it showed, with everyone making big scores or taking 3-plus wickets at some point during the season. Every time I went out to bat I knew exactly what I had to do , and I think that goes for everyone in the team,” Oakes said.
Oakes, who is currently in the United Kingdom playing a season of club cricket there, was unable to be at the awards to collect his award but singled out his debut for the Dolphins as a pivotal moment in the season.
“Making my debut has been the highlight of my career, and a dream come true. The players and the coaches made it very easy to feel like part of the team, and were instrumental in preparing for the game and letting me know that I deserved to be there. I’d like to thank the Dolphins for giving me the opportunity, and to my provincial teammates and coaches for supporting me, backing me, and setting high standards throughout the season,” Oakes added.
Among the other winners was Richard Wissing, who won the award for KZN Academy Player of the Year, and another Dolphins debutant Zakariya Paruk who won the award for Most Improved Provincial Player.
The final award of the evening, the KZNCU Presidents Award, presented by Fa-eez Jaffer went to Maggs Reddy. Jaffer mentioned the role that Reddy has played behind the scenes as a cricket administrator over many years. From ground and pitch preparation to fetching people for club matches, he has given so much of his time to the game of cricket in KwaZulu-Natal.
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