It was a memorable day for 30-over captain Talia Baksh and Guyanese student Latoya Garraway as they took home most of the club awards distributed at The Sport and Physical Education Centre, University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the club from organising their traditional dinner and awards ceremony, but it did not stop the club from recognising and awarding the top performers during the 2020 season during a brief distribution event at the campus, observing all hygiene and physical distancing measures.
Talia Baksh, who led the team to a second-place finish allowing them to compete in the Premiership Division in 2021, ended the shortened season with 25 wickets and copped one of the four coveted Cricketer of the Year titles. She was also named Player of the Year. Baksh achieved her career-best figures of 5/11 against Barrackpore United Sports Club in the first round of the 30-over League, and picked up two Player of the Match awards during the competition. With a strike rate of 9.75 in the League and 13.00 in the T20 competition, the League captain also ensured she would take home the trophies for the most wickets in both formats. Her economy rate of 2.96 was also the best among all bowlers in all formats of competition this year.
Guyanese national Latoya Garraway, who just completed her BSc. Economics degree at the local UWI campus, was also named a Cricketer of the Year and the Most Improved Player. Garraway regained her form of 2018 and amassed 192 runs, remaining not out on three occasions over the season. Her highest score of 47 not out came against Cricket Lovers and with a record club average of 80.50, Garraway led the way with the bat ensuring every run chase in the T20 tournament was successful. This resulted in her earning the award for the most runs in this format and picking up three Player of the Match awards as well.
For the second consecutive year, vice-captain Tammika Nanan-Ramsumair took home the awards for the most runs in the 30-over format and Cricketer of the Year. Nanan-Ramsumair scored a total of 164 runs over the season remaining not out on three occasions. She blasted the club’s season high of 17 boundaries, with high scores of 35 runs in the 30-over League and 48 in the T20 tournament, and the second-best batting average of 49.50 in the latter. While sharing wicket-keeper duties she effected 1 stumping, and took 5 catches in the field during the season.
Barbados-born player Aaliyah Williams was also named Cricketer of the Year and received the award for scoring the most runs in the T10 tournament. Williams returned home in early March, but not before scoring a total of 158 runs, taking 13 wickets and earning three Player of the Match awards to help her side to a top-two finish. The all-rounder’s highest score was 30 not out, and her best bowling figures of 4/15 came in a T20 match against the Moses Lendore Cricket Foundation. Williams’ exceptional fielding in the inner circle accounted for many of the wickets taken by the club and her 11 catches taken were the most by any player.
Copping the Emerging Player award was club newcomer Hema Mahabir who scored 34 not out in the only inning in which she batted, and took 10 wickets with best bowling figures of 3/15 against Players Sports Club. Her smart bowling was instrumental in breaking partnerships at crucial points of the game. Mahabir was excellent when fielding at any position on the field – denying opposing batsmen of any boundaries hit in her direction, taking 2 catches and effecting 1 run out along the way.
The Players of the Match during the season also received their awards on Saturday and included up-and-coming all-rounder Victoria Madoo. The UWI ladies hope to replicate their performances next year as they attempt to navigate unchartered territory in the Premiership Division.
Front row (from left): Victoria Madoo (Player of the Match Awardee), Talia Baksh, Rachael-Ann Dookhoo (Most Wickets-T10) and Latoya Garraway.
UWI WCC AWARDEES 2020
T10 Tournament
Most Runs: Aaliyah Williams (51 runs, Ave. 17.00, HS 26)
Most Wickets: Rachael-Ann Dookhoo (4 wickets, Ave. 6.00, BB 2/1)
T20 Tournament
Most Runs: Latoya Garraway (161 runs, Ave. 80.50, HS 47*)
Most Wickets: Talia Baksh (8 wickets, Ave. 10.00, BB 3/13)
30-over League
Most Runs: Tammika Nanan-Ramsumair (62 runs, Ave. 15.50, HS 35*)
Most wickets: Talia Baksh (16 wickets, Ave. 4.81, BB 5/11)
Emerging Player: Hema Mahabir
Most Improved Player: Latoya Garraway
Cricketers of the Year:
Talia Baksh
Latoya Garraway
Tammika Nanan-Ramsumair
Aaliyah Williams
Player of the Year: Talia Baksh
