The South East Stars hosted their annual end-of-season awards ceremony at The Kia Oval on 29 September to celebrate the achievements and hard work of the players, their families, and the staff.
In a buzzing India Suite, Emma Calvert, the Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, presented the ceremony on what was a warm night of laughter and appreciation, spent amongst friends, family, and teammates.
All-rounders Alice Davidson-Richards and Paige Scholfield, as well as young wicket-keeper-batter Jemima Spence, emerged out of the night as serial winners, each of them collecting multiple awards.
Emma Calvert said: “It was a hard-fought season filled with incredible moments and riveting cricket, as well as lessons to learn for the future.
“The time to reflect and improve will follow in the winter, but it was equally important that we enjoy and celebrate the achievements and the commitment of our amazing players and staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the summer.”
The list of awards and awardees is as follows:
Senior Awards
Players’ Player of the Year – Alice Davidson-Richards
A leader in the squad who won games with both the bat and ball this season, Alice Davidson-Richards was highly influential throughout the season. Her match-winning century in a crucial tie against The Blaze in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy was nothing short of special! The versatile all-rounder finished as our second-highest run-getter, with 322 runs to her name, and joint second-most wicket-taker, claiming 15 wickets, in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
T20 Player of the Year – Bryony Smith
Striking at a mind-blowing run-rate of 155.15 while healthily averaging 36.5, Bryony Smith was our leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. To go along with her batting firepower, our skipper also claimed five wickets in the T20 competition.
50 Over Player of the Year – Paige Scholfield
In her first season as a Stars, Scholfield didn’t take long to display her brilliance, scoring two centuries in the first three matches. The 27-year-old finished as the team’s leading scorer with an impressive average of nearly 40 and a tally of 439 runs to accompany her eight wickets.
Stars Value Player – Alice Davidson-Richards
Equally incredible in all departments, Alice Davidson-Richards won the Stars Value Player for her great contributions on and off the pitch. The 29-year-old has been raising awareness about dementia and supporting Alzheimer’s Society – a charity that aids people living with dementia and their carers, and recently partnered with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Outstanding Moment of the Year – Paige Scholfield’s 111* on debut vs Thunder
Paige Scholfield announced her arrival to the Stars with a bang, coming out all guns blazing against Thunder as she powered her way to 111 not out off 90 balls, smashing 11 fours and five maximums in the process. Walking out to bat at 130/3, Scholfield took her side to 334/5 and ensured the Stars started the season on a positive note.
Academy Awards
Players’ Player of the Year – Jemima Spence
Stars’ leading run-scorer, with 402 runs at an average of 44.6, in this season’s Regional Academy Friendlies, the 17-year-old was in brilliant form throughout the summer!
Breakthrough Player – Charlotte Stubbs
A fast-bowling all-rounder coming through the ranks, who can impress with the ball and the bat, as was highlighted against Central Sparks Academy in the Regional Academy Summer Festival Finals when Charlotte Stubbs got the team off to a quick start with a knock of 42 before claiming 2/19 in the second innings.
Stars Value Player – Tilly Corteen Coleman
A left-arm spinner by trade, Tilly Corteen Coleman was amongst the wickets for the South East Stars Academy across competitions, finishing as the side’s second-highest wicket-taker in the Regional Academy Friendlies with 12 scalps at an impressive average of 17.25.
Outstanding Moment – Jemima Spence 131* v Northern Diamonds Academy
Jemima Spence played the innings every opener dreams of as she faced the first and the last ball of a 50-over game. Having faced 150 balls, struck 13 fours, and taken her side to a match-winning total of 284/4, Spence walked off the field with a dazzling 131 not out to her name against Northern Diamonds Academy.
Emerging Player Programme Awards
Impact Player – Daisy Feast
With 46 runs needed to win and only a wicket in hand, Daisy Feast was the last batter in but didn’t show any semblance of nerves in her gameplay as she partnered with Tilly Corteen Coleman to calmly complete an incredible chase against Central Sparks, taking the Stars home with 13 balls to spare.
Breakthrough Player – Imogen Sheriyar
A promising left-arm seamer, Imogen Sheriyar broke through the ranks this season and will be hoping to grow in stature next year!
Stars Value – Laxmi Johal
In her only innings in the Regional Academy Friendlies, the stylish opener awed those watching with her range of shots as her knock of 43 gave the Stars the perfect foundation against Thunder.
