Devine, Southee bag NZ awards

AUCKLAND: Sophie Devine and Tim Southee were honoured by their peers for their performances in the 2019-20 season in an online ceremony because of the COVID-19, the New Zealand women’s skipper receiving the Cricket Players’ Association Players’ Aw­ard and the men’s fast bowler getting the Players’ Cap.

While this is the second time Southee has won the honour (after 2013), for Devine it’s an incredible three-in-a-row, helping her match Kane Williamson, who had won it from 2015 to 2017.

Devine has been in fantastic form in the period under consideration, especially with the bat. At the recent women’s T20 World Cup, she finished seventh in the list of top run-getters with 132 runs from four innings. And prior to the World Cup, she was in stunning form at home against South Africa, scoring an incredible 54 not out, 61, 77 and 105 in the Twenty20 International series, while also picking up four wickets.

Southee became the third to win the Cap more than once, joining Williamson and Ross Taylor. It was a big season for Southee, too, especially in Test cricket, where he picked up 33 wickets in six games. “I was a little surprised. I think there’s a number of guys who would’ve been worthy runners-up of the award,” Southee said. “I think it just shows you that the type of cricket and the brand of cricket we have played over the last 12 months, a number of different guys have stepped up at different times.”