Cricketers awarded by SWD

KNYSNA NEWS – Each of the four CX cricket clubs brought home at least one award from the SWD Cricket Annual Awards last week, attesting to their hard work and strong performances during the 2021/22 SWD cricket season.

The awards function was held on Saturday 7 May at De Opstal Country Lodge just outside Oudtshoorn.

Knysna Cavaliers, Kranshoek Cobras, Pirates United and Plettenberg Bay Pioneers were all invited to attend the event.

And it was a memorable season for all local cricket clubs indeed.

Cavaliers' second team reached the semi-finals of the Reserve League for the first time ever, Kranshoek Cobras made their way to the Promotion Division B semi-finals, and Pirates United reached the final of Promotion Division A.

Pioneers' women's team also excelled this season, progressing to the final of the Women's T20 Competition for the first time.

The brightest stars were perhaps the two clubs whose first teams take part in the SWD Premier League - Knysna Cavaliers and Plett Pioneers. The 2021/22 season proved to be a historic affair for both clubs with Pioneers making their way into the final of the league for the first time in the club's history, and Cavaliers playing in the final for the first time in 16 years.

The final proved to be a battle, but the Cavaliers ultimately triumphed to win their first Premier League title in 23 years.

With such a rate of success for the clubs and their representative teams, it was inevitable that their players would be awarded. At the awards function, Wayne Oraai of the Kranshoek Cobras was named the SWD Promotion Division B Bowler of the Season. Pirates United's Curnol Thorne was the SWD Promotion Division A Batsman of the Season and Pioneers' Rusha van Wieling was crowned the SWD Women's T20 Competition Bowler of the Season.

The club that raked in the most awards however was Knysna Cavaliers. Thabo Dywili was announced as the SWD U19 Promotion League Batsman of the Season for his exploits with Thembalethu Hub.

Blake Linder was named the SWD Reserve League Bowler of the Season, and Todd Walker the SWD Premier League Batsman of the Season.

Further up the ranks, Keenan Vieira was the SWD Colts Player of the Season while Sean Whitehead was the SWD Cricket Player of the Season.

It was not only the players who excelled though - Cavaliers-affiliated Kerrin Klaaste was the first-ever woman to become the SWD Cricket Umpire of the Season.

SWD board of directors member Donavan Claassen awards Blake Linder the SWD Reserve League Bowler of the Season award.