Ceramic Merryboys allrounder Aneil Kanhai was named Cricketer of the Year by the Eastern Credit Union (ECU) during the prize giving ceremony for its National Premier League at Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wrightson on Saturday night. The 29-year-old had helped Merryboys place second in the League by scoring 470 runs with the bat and taking a tournament high of 49 wickets (Ave: 13.13) with his offspin. He also picked up the three of the nine Cricketer of the Round Awards for his performances in Round 4 (96 & 38 & 6-68 vs T&TEC), Round 6 (7-68 & 35 vs Moosai Sports) and Round 7 (33 & 43 & 10-136 vs Alescon Comets). Following the ceremony, he said he was glad to be of service to his club. "It feels good to win this award for the first time after working so hard for Merryboys. I always put in 150 per cent when go I out on the field... It's the only club I've ever played for in T&T and I will try to help them win the majority of the titles next year."
Kanhai was recalled to the T&T team after a seven year absence in February but was discarded after underperforming in two first class games. He said that he would be focusing on earning the confidence of the national selectors once more in 2012. "When I made it back in the T&T team, I went it in and tried to do well but it did not work out so I'll have to work harder for next year to make it happen again." Also among the Five Cricketers of the Year were T&TEC's Jason Mohammed, who topped the tournament's batting averages with 532 runs at 106.4, Powergen's Inshan Mutaliph, the leading run scorer with 668 runs (Ave: 47.1), QPCC captain Justin Guillen, who lead the Parkites to the Premiership title with 657 runs (Ave: 59.72), and WC Wanderers left arm orthodox spinner Javed Ramdhanie, who grabbed 45 scalps at 17.73 apiece. During an impassioned and colourful feature address which touched upon a wide array of issues, Pastor Clive Dottin encouraged the T&T team to prove their doubters wrong by going all the way in the upcoming Nokia Champions League in India in September.
HONOUR ROLL
Cricketer of the Year: Aneil Kanhai (Ceramic Merryboys)
Five Cricketers of the Year: Aneil Kanhai (Ceramic Merryboys), Jason Mohammed (T&TEC), Inshan Mutaliph (Powergen), Justin Guillen (QPCC), Javed Ramdhanie (WC Wanderers).
Premiership League Title: QPCC - 191 pts
Players of the Round:
Round 1: Dwayne Smith (QPCC) - 70 & 8-27 vs Merryboys
Round 2: Kjorn Ottley (Preysal) - 108* & 6-38 vs T&TEC
Round 3: Javed Ramdhanie (Wanderers) - 8-70 vs Wanderers
Round 4: Aneil Kanhai (Merryboys) - 96, 38 & 6-68 vs T&TEC
Round 5: Homchand Pooran (Clarke Road) - 158 vs Wanderers
Round 6: Aneil Kanhai (Merryboys) - 7-68 & 35 vs Moosai Sports
Round 7: Aneil Kanhai (Merryboys) - 33, 43 & 10-136 vs Alescon Comets
Round 8: Jason Mohammed (T&TEC) - 204 vs FCB Clarke Road
Round 9: Justin Guillen (QPCC) - 169 vs SIS Central Sports
Reserve League Cricketer of the Year: Hanooman Moonsammy (Alescon Comets)
Reserve League Five Cricketers of the Year: Hanooman Moonsammy (Alescon Comets), Premdath Persaud (T&TEC), Brian Charles (Clico Preysal), Kerron Kanhai (Powergen), Jason Johnitty (T&TEC).
Reserve League T20 Title: Powergen - 27 pts
