A real honour.
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That’s how Centrals and Orange skipper Daryl Kennewell described winning the 2016-17 Orange District Cricket Association cricketer of the year gong, which he was presented with at Friday’s presentation night.
Kennewell etched himself into ODCA history thanks to a bumper year at club and representative level and proved a popular choice for the MVP award, receiving a raucous reception when he was announced as the winner.
“It is a real honour, it’s not something you really think about when you’re playing. I certainly wasn’t expecting it, no one plays the game to win individual awards,” Kennewell said, humbly.
“I guess toward the end of the season I did start thinking ‘maybe I’m a shot’, especially when other people started talking about it but you still never expect it.
“Looking at some of the names on the trophy, it’s a privilege to be among those cricketers, the best Orange has had to offer through the years. Seeing some of the Centrals boys that have won it too, like Adam Shepherd, I’m really proud to be up with those guys.
“I wouldn’t be winning awards without my Centrals teammates though. I put in for them, they put in for me and you reap any rewards that come from that.”
There’s one factor that makes winning the award even more special for the big-hearted quick though.
“My dad actually won it a couple of times, I’m not really sure if people know what type of cricketer he was but that does make it extra special for me,” Kennewell enthused.
Acting as Centrals’ spearhead, Kennewell took 27 wickets in red-ball cricket and another eight in the Royal Hotel Cup to finish with an overall haul of 35 scalps, which he claimed at an average of 12.8 runs apiece.
He bagged two five-wicket hauls, in the last two rounds of the season, boasting best figures of 7-52.
At the representative level, he was a constant force for Orange, taking 11 wickets at 18.5.
He led the Bluebaggers superbly too, taking the side to Orange’s first title in almost a decade – the Mitchell Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup.
“That was a highlight during the season for me as well, that win,” he said.
“Everyone who played for Orange dug in and did what they needed to, I couldn’t have asked anymore from those guys.
“Hopefully we can keep improving at that level, especially in the 50-over cricket, and make Orange a real force again.”
Kennewell, expectedly, also picked up Centrals’ player of the year award at the red and blacks’ presentation night on Saturday, finishing off a fruitful weekend for the quick.