NZC Awards: Sophie Devine T20I Player of the Year, Amelia Kerr Super Smash Player of the Year

White Ferns captain Sophie Devine claimed the women’s T20 International Player of the Year award on the opening day of the 2022 New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Awards.

The awards, which are being delivered digitally over three days, also crowned Wellington's Amelia Kerr as the Super Smash Player of the Year White Ferns and Auckland Hearts teenager Fran Jonas was named the Young Player of the Year.

Sophie Devine’s second T20I award in two years came after she scored 118 runs in four outings at 29.50, with an overall strike-rate of 113.46 and a top-score of 50 against England, at Hove.

Devine’s Wellington Blaze teammate and last year’s T20I winner, all-rounder Amelia Kerr, claimed back-to-back Women’s Super Smash Player of Year titles, after scoring 346 runs at a strike-rate of 115, while taking 17 wickets with her leg-spin in the Blaze’s unbeaten T20 season.

“For me the focus is on just trying to enjoy my cricket,” Kerr said. “I’d worked hard throughout that last winter so it was pleasing to go out there and perform in the season. I absolutely love playing for the Blaze and to complete an unbeaten season was really special. I’ve also got to thank the people around me who have supported me this season.”

Day two of the awards sees the First-Class and Domestic batting and bowling cups handed out along with the men’s and women’s ODI Players of the Year, and the Umpire of the Year award.

Thursday’s final day will see the presentation of the men’s and women’s Domestic Players of the Year, the Test Player of the Year, the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding services to cricket, and the supreme playing award - the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.

2022 NZC Awards – day 1

International Women’s T20 Player of the Year: Sophie Devine (Wellington Blaze)

Women’s Super Smash Player of the Year: Amelia Kerr (Wellington Blaze)

Community Awards

Young Player of the Year: Fran Jonas (Auckland Cricket) 

Community Cricket Activator of the Year: Frances Stewart (Cricket Wellington)

Best Female Engagement Initiative: Young Leaders (Cricket Wellington)

Outstanding Contribution and Services to Coaching: Maria Lankeshwar (nee Fahey) (Sydenham Cricket Club)

Best Diversity and Inclusion Initiative: Counties Manukau Premier League (Counties Manukau)

Community Cricket Collaboration Initiative of the Year: Canterbury Cricket