Local cricket teams came out tops at the Gauteng Cricket Board’s 2017 awards dinner, leaving winners with smiles too thick for an outside edge.
The Gunn and Moore Old Edwardians Cricket Club and Medal Paints Marks Park reaped the most awards at the event, held at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on 18 May, while Jeppe Cricket Club shone in the women’s section.
Local cricket clubs, Randburg, Pirates, Joburg, University of Johannesburg (UJ), Croxley Wits, Wanderers, and St Stithians Boys’ College were also rewarded for their hard work.
“This season the Strikers and the Lions have not done so well so we will put a committee together to look at why, and to find a way to get back to the top of the log,” said an honest board CEO, Greg Fredericks in his opening remarks.
Board president, Jack Madiseng, followed on by thanking everyone from the umpires to the players and staff. “You are all rock stars,” he applauded.
When it was time for the awards, the mood lifted, as opposing teams honoured each other for their excellence.
Old Eds won the Club of the Year and the Premier League B section, with Brandon Buckley the Bowler of the Year in that section. The club also won the Fair Play Award. “We are so happy to enjoy the night with other clubs instead of sledging each other,” joked club chairperson, Mark Patterson.
Marks Park won the Saturday Six League and the Saturday One league. Faheem Mirza took the Bowler of the Year in Premier League A. Former player Muhammed Mayet received an award for being selected to the South Africa U19 team.
Jeppe won the Women’s Club of the Year award. Robyn Searle was also honoured for playing for the SA A team. “The secret to Jeppe’s success was that we had a good time together, on and off the field,” she said. The men’s section won the Multiply T20 Community Cup, and Matthew Smith was Premier League A’s Player of the Year.
UJ won the Premier League A section, while Wits won the GCB T20 competition.
Joburg Cricket Club won the Sunday One league and Sunday Seven league, Randburg won the Sunday Two league and Pirates won the Saturday Seven league. Martin Coetzee of Wanderers was Batsman of the Year in the Premier League A. St Stithians College was awarded Schools Team of the Year, and team member Wiaan Mulder was awarded for being made captain of the SA U19 side.
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