THE 2020/21 season came to a close for the Bothwell Cricket Club with their trophy presentations on Saturday, May 21, at the Bothwell Recreation Ground. The standout of the trophy winners were Joshua Eyles who collected five awards.
Eyles had a stellar season taking out the Player of the Year Award as well as the Best Under-21 player. The youngster made 256 runs and took 23 wickets in fourth grade and claimed three five wicket hauls. In the grand final against Old Beach, he turned it on making a superb century of 124 in a man-of-the-match effort.
Brother Nathan wasn’t far behind with four trophies. Nathan made 402 runs at an average of 44.67 registering two centuries of 192 and 101. Of the mammoth score of 192, Eyles shared an outstanding partnership of 212 with team mate Brock Nichols who also scored a century of 102.
In seventh grade it was Ashley Browning who was the standout taking home three trophies. Browning had a very good season taking out Player of the Year, batting average and aggregate all for the second consecutive season. The very composed cricketer made 378 runs at average of 47.25 with a highest score of 64. Peter Hansch did very well with the ball taking 27 wickets.
In the women’s team, it was Melinda Green who was the stand out with three awards. Green had a great all round season taking out the Player of the Year Award, making 192 runs with a top score of 40 not out and also took five catches. The club performed extremely well on the field with all three teams.
In the men’s, Bothwell I took out the club’s first SCA 50-over premiership in a great win over Old beach in fourth grade. Bothwell II won 11 matches and lost five finishing runners-up in seventh grade.
The Women’s team won five from nine matches, finishing fifth from 10 teams.
At the conclusion of the trophy presentations, life membership was bestowed on veteran Joey Eyles. Joey has had a profound impact on the club since it reformed in season 2015/16. The tireless worker was inspirational in starting up the club, even funding the club until it was sufficiently up and running. Joey has filled the roll as president for every season (seven), helped form and then coach the women’s team as well as many other rolls within the club.