By Tricia Mifsud
GISBORNE and District Cricket Association concluded its 2020-21 season by holding an annual awards presentation night on Wednesday, March 31.
The night also celebrated the award winners from the 2019-20 season, as last year’s presentation was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Romsey batsmen Ben Way and Chris Burkett were selected in the team of the year at number four and five in the line-up respectively. Way also finished equal fifth in the Sullivan Medal count, receiving 13 votes – six shy of overall winner Sunbury Dilan Chandima of Sunbury United.
Way scored four half-centuries in 12 innings during the season and totalled 472 runs at an average of 52.44. His highest score was against Gisborne in round six where he scored 81*.
His teammate Burkett scored two half-centuries in his 13 innings at the crease, and totalled 380 with an average of 31.67. Burkett’s highest score was 90 against Diggers Rest Bulla in round eight.
Other award winners included Wallan Cricket Club’s Ryan Cumberland, who received the Johnstone Shield batting award for his 671 runs scored at an average of 55.92. Cumberland also was awarded the aggregate award with 741 points.
Cumberland made three centuries, and four half-centuries in his 13 innings with the bat. His highest score of 112 against Sunbury United in round four was the highest run total scored by any player in the competition during the 2020-21 season.
Romsey’s Jake East took home the Jensen Shield bowling award for the 30 wickets he took across the season at an average of 10.80.
East took double the amount of equal second-place Nathan Aikman (Macedon), Zac Micallef (Eynesbury) and Lachlan Crean (Kyneton). In his games against Sunbury in round five and 12 and Kyneton in round six, East took at five wickets and, in total, bowled eight maiden overs across the season.
