Cape Cobras all-rounder George Linde rounded off his season of personal success by adding three more awards at the annual Cape Cobras end of season awards.
While there was no official function due to the country-wide lockdown, the awards signal the official end to the 2019/2020 season which was curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fast bowler Thando Ntini was named Young Player of the Year. Ntini was called up to coach Ashwell Prince’s squad from the Western Province team prior to the third round of the 4-Day Domestic Series and never looked back as he went on to play in 9 of the Cobras’ 10 One-Day Cup matches and was the top wicket-taker for the franchise in the tournament with 14 wickets at an average of 28.28 and an economy rate of 5.53.
Zubayr Hamza was awarded the One-Day Cup Player of the Year accolade after he showed sublime form and character throughout the tournament which included two centuries and three half centuries as well as taking on the captaincy reigns during a disappointing tournament for his side. Hamza finished the competition with 582 runs from 10 innings at an average of 58.2 and included a career-best innings of 156 for good measure.
Linde was awarded the 4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Year trophy in a campaign where he took 30 wickets at an average of just 20.96, including two 10-wicket match hauls in just 6 matches. His best innings haul was 7/64 with a best match-haul of 11/131 against the Dolphins in Oudtshoorn. He underlined his value as one of the country’s best all-rounders with 345 runs, including 2 centuries at an average of 49.28.
Linde, who was recently named as the South African Cricketers Association (Saca) MVP, also earned the Players’ Player of the Year award after he earned the most votes from his peers for his overall contributions to the team during the past season.
To put the icing on the cake of success throughout the season, Linde was named as the Cape Cobras Player of the Year.
Head coach Ashwell Prince congratulated all the award winners: ‘Whilst it was a disappointing season for the team, we have quite a few individual highlights to celebrate. Zubayr Hamza was absolutely sensational during the One-Day Cup, scoring 582 runs at a strike rate of 97 dispelling any claims that he might only be a long format player.
‘In the same competition young Thando Ntini brought a lot of energy and effervescence, which is synonymous with the Ntini name and bowled beautifully in his maiden One-Day Cup campaign. We wish him everything of the best on his new journey.
‘Then George Linde, our Player of the Year. With two 10 wicket hauls and 2 Franchise 100s in 4 Day Cricket, he earned a well-deserved Test debut and call up to the ODI squad for the India tour. George is starting to have real belief in his ability, and this is showing in these colossal performances for the Cobras.’
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