The 2023/24 Lions Awards evening tops the scoreboard

There was glitz and glamour galore at the Lions Awards evening in Sandton on June 8.

Those ‘Pride’ members who constantly went above and beyond, ensuring the 2023/24 season was a roaring success, were duly rewarded throughout the evening with plenty of prizes on offer from the valued and generous partners of the Lions.

The all-encompassing awards evening covered schools and clubs’ cricket, national weeks, national representatives, presidential awards, blind cricket, deaf cricket, veterans, and rural cricket.

A special mention was announced to acknowledge those who went above and beyond the call of duty, the Telkom Lions Academy winners, and the much-valued match official winners.

Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright said the past season still left him speechless.

“We hunted the 2023–24 season as a collective, driven, passionate pride, and that collective effort has ensured our success. From schools to clubs, administrators, scorers, coaches, officials, umpires, the board, our partners and sponsors, players, friends, and families.”

He added they have big dreams and have achieved them.

“We have lived, learned, led, and loved what we do. I am grateful for what has been and thrilled at what’s to come because I honestly believe that as long as we work together, work smart, and love what we do, beating our best is possible.”

He said Bjorn Fortuin emerged as the big winner, and the DP World Lions’ triumphant men’s T20 captain was named both the DP World Player of the Season and the McDonald’s Players’ Player of the Season.

“Left-arm spinner Fortuin was in divine form throughout the season with the ball, taking 60 wickets across the three competitions. He was the leading wicket-taker in the CSA 4-Day Series, claiming 35 wickets at an average of 26.11 as he spearheaded the DP World Lions’ title-winning campaign.”

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