Dolphins spinner Keshav Maharaj has been named the South African Cricketers’ Association Most Valuable Player for the 2020-21 season.
Team-mate Senuran Muthusamy and Cape Cobras all-rounder George Linde were also in contention for the award. Maharaj earned 316.287 points to Muthusamy’s 283.216 and Linde’s 266.520, respectively.
File image: Keshav Maharaj.
“The MVP rankings combine a player’s performance across all three domestic competitions and are an indicator of consistency throughout the season. Performances in the 4-Day Series, One-Day Cup and T20 Challenge are recognised in the MVP rankings,” read a statement from SACA.
“The SACA MVP rankings list the top-performing franchise players competing in Cricket South Africa’s domestic competitions using an internationally recognised formula.
“Points are awarded for batting, bowling, fielding, and team wins are weighted across formats to ensure critical performances in every match earn appropriate points.”
2020-21 SACA awards
- 4-Day Series MVP: Keshav Maharaj
- One-Day Cup MVP: Robbie Frylinck
- T20 Challenge MVP: Reeza Hendriks
Maharaj was also named SACA’s 4-Day Series Most Valuable Player. Earlier this week, he won the Dolphins’ 4-Day Series Player of the Year accolade.
“Winning the coveted title of the SACA MVP and the 4-Day MVP underscores the hard work that has gone into refining my own game across all formats – both in terms of my performance and fitness,” said Maharaj.
“I am really pleased to see my hard work paying off, but most importantly contributing towards my team’s victories and winning of trophies. Full credit must go to the Dolphins team for the culture we have created and the hard work of management.”
File image: Robbie Frylinck.
Dolphins all-rounder Robbie Frylinck claimed SACA’s One-Day Cup Most Valuable Player award. His 72.626 points beat Warriors star Jon-Jon Smuts’ 69.811 and Cape Cobras batsman Janneman Malan’s63.794.
“The past 12 months have been tough for everyone. To be the limited-overs MVP this season is rewarding and a reminder for me that hard work pays off. I have always brought passion to the field while playing the game I love and winning the limited-overs MVP is the cherry on the top of the season,” added Frylinck, who was also named the Dolphins’ Player of the Season earlier this week.
Lions batsman Reeza Hendricks collected SACA’s T20 Challenge MVP prize. His 89.049 points were more than Maharaj’s 85.7999 and Frylinck’s 81.125.
“The MVP award is always something we aspire to as a measure of consistency. To have won the T20 Challenge trophy with the Lions and top the rankings is really rewarding. Being consistent is what we all strive for and to achieve that this season when there were so many external uncertainties is a great way to prepare for the challenges ahead,” concluded Hendricks.