Cricket Newfoundland and Labrador recently clewed up its 2020 season with the final Division 1 matches played, and awards presented.
The season start was delayed a month due to COVID-19, with matches starting in early July following strict health protocols. Two competitions were held, the longer format a 40-and-over tournament featuring four clubs, and the T20 league, where two new clubs competed, expanding the league to seven clubs.
Both competitions were dominated by the Avengers, who went through the season without a defeat in either format (16-0).
The 40-and-over tournament was secured by the narrowest of margins, with a one-run victory over the Royal Challengers. The T20 tournament split into two divisions after a first round, where all teams played each other. The Division II title was won by the Hurricanes, a new club, with the Avengers winning the Division I championship, defeating the Super Kings.
The Avengers’ Rahul Vashishtha was a standout this season, scoring over 1,100 runs in the two competitions combined. Late in the season, he scored 718 runs in seven innings, 51 per cent of his team’s runs.
Vashishtha was named league MVP for both 20-and-over- and 40-and-over competitions.
Other awards included:
20-and-over league
Best bat: Ali Raza
Best bowler: Mukul Diwan
Best fielder: Aakash Singh
40-and-over league
Best bat: Gurman Khurana/ Aryan Falke
Best bowler: Wahidur Rahman
Best fielder: Abid Hassan
Most Spirited player awards (one per club)
Avengers: Kathan Shah
Stars: Irtiza Dar
Hurricanes: Wahidur Rahman
Newfoundland Super Kings: Aditya Dave
Eagles: Samad Quddusi
Tigers: Mohammed Zilani
Royal Challengers: Aryan Falke