Devine voted the best in Big Bash
Allrounder happy to have put runs on the board for team
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine has been named the player of the tournament in the Australian women’s Big Bash League. The Perth Scorchers allrounder edged Australian star Meg Lanning for the top individual award.
During the regular season, Devine scored 448 runs at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 130.23 and took five wickets.
Votes are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by each standing umpire at the end of every match, meaning a player can receive up to six votes per match.
Devine polled 31 votes, finishing ahead of the Melbourne Stars skipper Lanning (29 votes), Sydney Thunder’s Heather Knight (28), Brisbane Heat’s Grace Harris (22) and Sydney Sixers’ Alyssa Healy (22).
She also made the tournament team.
Devine moved from the Adelaide Strikers to lead Perth this season.
“It’s all about leading from the front with the bat, especially opening the batting as well. You really want to make an impact at the top of the order so it was nice to get some runs under the belt.”
Devine has recovered from the back spasms that kept her out of a game last week and was to lead the Scorchers in last night’s semifinal against the top qualifiers, Melbourne Stars.
The 31-year-old has had to limit her time at the bowling crease but she said she was keen to have a crack at the Stars’ order which includes leading run-scorer Lanning.
“We’ll definitely be taking
the
underdog status into this game and we’ve got no worries about that as the Stars have played exciting and dominant cricket throughout this competition.
“But I think the great thing about
finals cricket is that everyone starts on zero and it’s every man for himself so we’re certainly looking forward to the challenge to test ourselves against the form team of the competition.”
The Perth Scorchers are chasing a first Women’s Big Bash League title. The Brisbane Heat play the Sydney Thunder in the other semifinal tonight. Fellow White Ferns Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr play for the Heat.