Wellington Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell has picked up an impressive haul of awards on day four of Cricket Wellington’s Celebration of Cricket.
Bracewell picked up the Ford Trophy, Plunket Shield and Overall Player’s Player of the Year awards, capping off an impressive summer for the allrounder.
The 30-year-old has performed consistently across all three formats this season, especially in the Plunket Shield where he finished as the competition’s fourth leading run scorer with 560 runs.
Bracewell registered three centuries across the competition, including back-to-back centuries in the final match of the summer against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval. He also picked up nine wickets in the competition as he continues to establish himself as a genuine allrounder.
In the one-day arena he scored 344 runs and took nine wickets helping the Firebirds make a late Ford Trophy charge which saw them qualify for the elimination finals.
Bracewell also tasted international success for New Zealand A in four-day fixtures against West Indies A and Pakistan A and registered his maiden New Zealand A century with 135 against the West Indies.
21-year-old sensation Finn Allen’s memorable Dream11 Super Smash campaign was recognised as he picked up the Firebirds Super Smash Player’s Player of the Year Award.
Allen was awarded the men’s Dream11 Super Smash Player of the Year award at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards earlier in the week, adding more success to a dream summer for the opening batsman.
Allen amassed a league-leading 512 runs at an average of 56 and an incredible strike-rate of 193 - featuring a table-topping 56 fours and 25 sixes.
His form was rewarded with selection in the BLACKCAPS T20 squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh, as well as a contract in the prestigious Indian Premier League with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Cricket Wellington also recognised the best performances from its senior club cricket competitions.
Johnsonville’s Rakitha Weerasundara was awarded the May Cup for the highest premier club score. The Johnsonville skipper scored an unbeaten 199 in the Pearce Cup final, helping his side lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
Eastern Suburbs’ Adam Leonard won the J Atkin Cup for best senior bowling performance. The promising seamer took 7-48 against Wellington Collegians in the Hazlett Trophy two-day competition.
VUWCC’s Ben Strang was awarded the Sam Platt Cup for best overall performance. Strang took 7-52 with the ball and then smashed 90 off 62 balls against North City in the Hazlett Trophy two-day competition.
Hutt District’s Stephen Hewson won the Stanley Cowman Cup for best lower grade performance with his 9-76 against Johnsonville third XI in the Division 5 competition.
Cricket Wellington’s Celebration of Cricket will continue this week as all award winners are announced daily on the Cricket Wellington social media channels, before the major awards are announced at the Celebration of Cricket event tomorrow evening.
Celebration of Cricket | 2020/21 Award Winners
Ground of the Year - Hutt Recreation Ground
Best and Fairest Club Captain - Sean O'Connor (Onslow Premiers)
Best and Fairest Club Team - Onslow Premiers
Royal Visit Cup (Wellington Aggregate) – Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club
Norwood Cup (Wellington Average) – Taita District Cricket Club
Judith Sadler Cup (most runs in premier women) – Florence Marshall (Wellington Collegians)
Arthur Dick Cup (most runs in premier men) – Devan Vishvaka (Johnsonville)
Majorie Sweetman Cup (most wickets in premier women) – Abby Carr (Wellington Collegians)
Ron Murray Cup (most wickets in premier men) – Zac Ringrose (Johnsonville)
May Cup (highest premier score) – Rakitha Weerasundara (Johnsonville)
J Atkin Cup (best bowling in premier club cricket) – Adam Leonard (Eastern Suburbs)
Sam Platt Cup (best overall performance) – Ben Strang (VUWCC)
Stanley Cowman Cup (best lower grade performance) – Stephen Hewson (Hutt District)
U19 Female Player of the Year - Tash Codyre
U19 Male Player of the Year - Tim Robinson
U20 Young Cricketer of the Year - Devan Vishvaka
U23 Young Cricketer of the Year - Rachin Ravindra
Provincial A Men's Player of the Year - Nick Greenwood
Most Promising Female Player – Georgia Plimmer
Most Promising Male Player – Troy Johnson
Women’s Fielder of the Year – Jess McFadyen
Men’s Fielder of the Year – Michael Bracewell
Women’s Best Allrounder – Amelia Kerr
Men’s Best Allrounder – Michael Bracewell
Firebirds Super Smash Player’s Player of the Year – Finn Allen
Firebirds Ford Trophy Player’s Player of the Year – Michael Bracewell
Firebirds Plunket Shield Player’s Player of the Year – Michael Bracewell
Firebirds Overall Player’s Player of the Year – Michael Bracewell
Article added: Thursday 15 April 2021
