Jeppe Quondam Cricket Club captain receives inaugural Cricket South Africa award

Oliver (centre) at Saturday's ceremony.

Jeppe Quondam Cricket Club captain Gareth Oliver lifted the maiden Multiply T20 Community Cup Cricketer of the Year accolade during Cricket South Africa’s amateur awards ceremony in Johannesburg this week.

While Oliver was named the player of the tournament shortly after its conclusion in early April 2017, he was only presented with the trophy at Saturday’s event at the Inanda Club.

The talented all-rounder scored 181 runs in five innings, while his impressive left-arm spin brought eight wickets.

He led the Johannesburg-based club to victories over Bohemian Cricket Club, Kempton Park Cricket Club, Brackenfell Cricket Club, Crusaders Cricket Club and Burma Lads Cricket Club – en route to the inaugural title.

“Weeks like the T20 Community Cup are really brilliant for guys like us. This sort of thing does wonders for average club cricketers, who can get some experience against the other best community clubs from around our nation,” said Oliver.

Proteas and University of Pretoria Cricket Club wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, meanwhile, received the 2017 Momentum National Club Championship Player of the Tournament trophy – but was absent from Saturday’s ceremony.