SWD Cricket honours its top performers

GEORGE CRICKET NEWS - SWD spin bowler Tsepo Ndwandwa won the prestigious SWD player of the season award at their annual awards, that was presented via virtual media last Friday.

The Covid-19 lockdown regulations has prevented SWD Cricket from hosting its annual awards function at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season and had to stream its awards via various media platforms.

In the CSA Provincial Three-Day competition, Ndwandwa bagged the fifth most wickets - 33 (just six wickets less that the top wicket taker, Basheer Walters) at an average of 24.84 with two five-wicket hauls. He also represented a SA Emerging XI and the WSB Cape Cobras.

Miceala Andrews, who finished sixth on the CSA limited over competition batting averages with 187 runs at an average of 46.75 (with a highest score of 117 and strike rate of 114), received the award as women’s player of the season. She was also selected for CSA T20 Super Series and CSA National Powerade Academy.

Franco Geldenhuys, a member of George Cricket Club who won the Premier League, was named the Premier League player of the season. Marco Hannies (Blanco CC), who was the top wicket-taker in the league, won the award for the Promotion League player of the season

The top wicket-taker in the Reserve League, Mobeen Elyas (George CC), won the award as Reserve League Player of the season and Miceala Andrews - who scored the most runs in the Women’s League (243 runs at an average of 49) and who was one of three bowlers to bag the most wickets - received the award as women’s player of the season. Nicole Swart (George CC) was the player of the season in the Women’s T20 Promotion League whilst Envirino Swartz (Union Stars CC) was the T20 player of the season for his bowling performances.

Jaco Fourie (George Cricket Club) took the most wickets in the Premier League.

Bradley Manewill (intellectually impaired player of the season), Beviano Swigelaar (LSEN player of the season), Tyrece Karelse (High Schools player of the season), Luvo Ntantiso (SWD scorer of the season), André Olivier (SWD umpire of the season), Keith Cretchley (Knysna Cavaliers CC - the club groundsman of the season) were the respective category winners

Union Stars received the Fair Play Award, a newly introduced award that is based on an evaluation by umpires that relates to the respect for umpires, respect for the opposition and respect for the laws.

Special Merit awards were awarded to Heath Richards and Jhedli van Briesies (selected for Cape Cobras Cubs) and Jason Maswanganyi (appointed as coach for the Cobras Franchise Cubs), Miceala Andrews, Annerie Dercksen and Jané Winster (selected for CSA Women T20 Super League), Travis Ackermann and Keenen Vieira (selected for the Cape Cobras Franchise Colts), Jason Maswanganyi (appointed as coach for the Cobras Franchise Colts), Brendon Louw (played his 100th First Class match for SWD), Neil Hornbuckle (played his 50th First Class match for SWD), André Olivier (appointed as umpire to officiate in the SA Cubs week, SA Rural Week, SA Cubs week, USSA week and Varsity Cup), Miceala Andrews (selected for 2020 CSA Powerade Women Academy Intake), Tyrece Karelse (selected for the SA u.19 team for the 2020 ICC U/19 CWC), Tsepo Ndwandwa (selected to represent the WSB Cape Cobras and selected to represent the SA Invitation XI in a Triangular Domestic tournament in August 2019), Stefan Tait (selected to represent a South Africa Invitational XI against England in a Two Day match in Benoni in December 2019 and in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020), Jean du Plessis (selected to represent a South Africa Invitational XI against England in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020) and Baakier Abrahams (appointed as assistant coach for a South Africa Invitational XI against England in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020).

Three members who passed away during the past season - Neville du Plessis, an umpire from Dysselsdorp, Elvira Nomdoe, a scorer from Blanco, and Carol le Roux, an educator from Delville Park Primary School in George, who were involved in the KFC Mini Cricket programme for more than ten years - were each honored with a Roll of Honor award.

SWD Cricket chief executive officer, Albertus Kennedy, who was employed since the opening of a permanent office since October 2004, received the Simon Swigelaar Floating Trophy for his services to SWD Cricket.

Other category winners from George were: