Selection of the Year – Duanne Olivier
Gwavu has really galvanized the Lions into a well-drilled unit, but the move of Duanne Olivier from the Itec Knights to the Lions proved a master-stroke. Olivier, who had left the South African shores to take up a Kolpak contract with Yorkshire, returned once the Kolpak deals had been ended due to Brexit.
His move to the Lions provided the perfect platform for his return to the Proteas setup, with the right-arm fast bowler claiming 28 wickets in four matches at a staggering average of just 11.14, taking a wicket every 23.1 deliveries.
Best Performance of the Year – Janneman Malan
Magala’s exploits with the ball against the Warriors almost clinched this but this award goes to Boland’s (and Cape Cobras) Malan. The right-handed opener’s exploits in a curtailed season has been nothing short of brilliant.
Despite the Cobras not making the final of the MODC, Malan was top of the charts, having scored 232 runs in four innings at an average of 77.33 and a healthy strike-rate of 81.4 and also accruing three half-centuries and a top-score of 95.
Malan notched up 283 runs in the 4-Day series in just three matches at an average of 70.75 although this was heavily influenced by his top-score of 200 not out for Boland against the Knights in Bloemfontein