Wellington Firebirds batsman Devon Conway has been awarded the Norwood Award for Firebirds Cricketer of the Year for the second year running.

Conway, who was also awarded the Men’s Outstanding Batsman award and the Dream11 Super Smash, Ford Trophy and Overall Players’ Player of the Year Awards, was the leading runscorer in all three men’s domestic competitions this summer and notched up over 500 runs in each format, helping the Firebirds lift the Dream11 Super Smash title and the Plunket Shield.

The awards cap off another memorable summer for the 28-year-old who notched up 1,797 runs across the season at an average of 66.7, including a memorable 327 not out in the Plunket Shield against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve – the highest ever first-class score for Wellington and the highest ever score at the Basin Reserve.

Sophie Devine was also recognised for her unforgettable season, taking home the Norwood Award for Blaze Cricketer of the Year, as well as the Women’s Outstanding Batter and Women’s Allrounder of the Year Awards.

Devine was at times unplayable during the Women’s Dream11 Super Smash, scoring 369 runs, including 25 sixes and taking 13 wickets, leading her side to eleven out of eleven wins to lift the trophy and complete a historic women’s T20 three-peat.

Rachin Ravindra was also among the awards picking up the Men’s Most Promising Player of the Year Award, the Plunket Shield Players’ Player of the Year Award and both the U20 and U23 Young Cricketer of the Year Awards.

The 20-year-old cemented his spot at the top of the order in all three formats for the Firebirds this summer, recording his maiden List A and first-class centuries along the way and earning yet another call-up to the New Zealand A squad to face India A.

Jess Kerr’s standout season with the ball was recognised as she received the Women’s Outstanding Bowler Award.

Kerr was the star of an impressive Blaze bowling line-up during the Dream11 Super Smash, topping the wicket-taking charts with 20.

Her performances were rewarded with a first call-up to the WHITE FERNS squad for ODI and T20 internationals against South Africa, before being selected in the WHITE FERNS squad for the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in Australia.

Firebirds Ford Trophy captain Hamish Bennett was awarded the Men’s Outstanding Bowler after yet another strong season with the ball.

The 33-year-old played a huge role in the Firebird’s successful Dream11 Super Smash campaign forming a formidable opening bowling partnership with fellow seamer Ollie Newton.

Bennett topped the wicket-taking charts for the competition with 17 and saw his form rewarded for a long-awaited recall to the BLACKCAPS squad for the T20 international and ODI series against India.

Blaze off spinner Xara Jetly’s breakthrough year was recognised as she received the Women’s Most Promising Player Award.

Jetly performed consistently in the Blaze’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield campaign and earned a T20 debut against the Canterbury Magicians at the Basin Reserve going on to make two Dream11 Super Smash appearances and take her maiden domestic T20 wicket.

Further Wellington success could also be on the cards later this month when the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Award winners are announced in the form of a digital and mainstream media campaign over the week of Tuesday, April 28th.

2019/20 Cricket Wellington Norwood Award winners:

Admark Blaze Cricketer of the Year – Sophie Devine

Kapura Firebirds Cricketer of the Year – Devon Conway

Admark Women’s Outstanding Bowler – Jess Kerr

Kapura Men’s Outstanding Bowler – Hamish Bennett

Admark Women’s Outstanding Batter – Sophie Devine

Kapura Men’s Outstanding Batter – Devon Conway

Ford Trophy Player’s Player of the Year – Devon Conway

Dream11 Super Smash Player’s Player of the Year – Devon Conway

Plunket Shield Player’s Player of the Year – Rachin Ravindra

Overall Players Player of the Year – Devon Conway

Admark Women’s Most Promising Player – Xara Jetly

Kapura Men’s Most Promising Player – Rachin Ravindra

Admark Women’s Fielder of the Year – Melie Kerr

Kapura Men’s Fielder of the Year – Michael Bracewell

Admark Women’s Allrounder of the Year – Sophie Devine

Kapura Men’s Allrounder of the Year – Jimmy Neesham

Eddie Cameron U20 Young Cricketer of the Year – Rachin Ravindra

Sir Walter Nash U23 Young Cricketer of the Year – Rachin Ravindra

Whiting Financial Services Provincial A Women’s Player of the Year – Antonia Hamilton

Whiting Financial Services Provincial A Men’s Player of the Year – James Hartshorn

Article added: Friday 10 April 2020