Photo Credit: Rogan Ward/Dolphins Cricket
As the 2023/24 domestic cricket season drew to a close, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins celebrated achievements across both the men’s and women’s game at their 2024 season ending awards with Okuhle Cele and Alexander Candler taking home the coveted Player of the season and Players’ Player of the season awards.
It was another season to remember for both the women’s and the men’s teams with both equipping themselves well throughout the season. The highlight for the 2023/24 season was the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies winning the first ever CSA Women’s One Day Cup trophy, a first trophy for a Dolphins women’s side.
The men’s side produced another strong season despite not winning a trophy. They made the final of the CSA T20 Challenge once again, while they fell agonisingly short of the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series final.
From a women’s perspective, Candler shone with the bat for the Dolphins side and played a crucial role in winning the 50 over competition. She scored a vital 89 in their final match against the Lions which helped them to a historic victory.
She ended as the Dolphins’ highest run scorer in the competition and backed that up with being the highest run scorer for the Dolphins in the T20 competition as well.
Candler ended with 278 runs at an average of 46 and a top score of 89 in the One Day Cup and made 165 runs with a top score of 62 not out in the T20 Competition.
On the men’s side, Cele was the stand-out bowler for the Dolphins this season following his return to Durban from the Titans.
In the recently concluded T20 Challenge he picked up 17 wickets to go with his 24 wickets that he bagged in the 4-Day Series. He finished as the Dolphins top bowler in those two competitions.
After finishing as the tournaments leading run scorer, Marques Ackerman was awarded the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Year. Ackerman ended the competition with 571 runs at an average of 51, which included three fifties and one hundred.
Jason Smith was the stand-out player for the Dolphins in the One Day Cup and was given the Dolphins One Day Cup Player of the Year award. He scored 266 runs at an average of 88 which included one hundred and two fifties.
Amongst the women’s award winners were Jade de Figueiredo, who won the T20 Challenge bowler of the year, and our Proteas star Nonkululeko Mlaba, who was awarded the One Day Cup Bowler of the Year award.
De Figueiredo took nine wickets, best figures of 2/1, at an economy of just 3.83 runs to the over in the T20 Challenge. Mlaba shone with the ball in the One Day Cup with 18 wickets at an average of eight runs per wicket and best figures of 5/24.
Dolphins captain Nondumiso Shangase won the One Day Cup Fielder of the Year prize and lead the team immaculately throughout the season.
Recently contracted Proteas fast bowler Zintle Mali won the Impact Player of the Year award.
“It’s important that we recognise outstanding achievements from our players, and we are proud of all the efforts of both our men’s and women’s teams,” President of the KZN Cricket Union Yunus Bobat said.
“To see our women’s side win their first trophy in the top division given how quickly they have risen through the ranks is an incredible achievement and we are incredibly proud of our women’s team for all they have achieved.
“It was another good season across the board, but we will be hoping to kick on again in the upcoming season,” Bobat added.
CEO of the KZN Cricket Union Heinrich Strydom was full of praise for the teams after another strong season across the board.
“It was another memorable season for our Hollywoodbets Dolphins teams,” Strydom said.
“Our women’s side shone the light for us with their historic One Day Cup win and the men’s side equipped themselves well throughout the season.
“We are always striving to be the best across the cricket and governance, and we’ll reset now and come back stronger next season.
“It’s important to acknowledge all those people that make things possible, and we’re privileged to have such fantastic partners at the Dolphins.”
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Men’s awards:
CSA 4-Day Series Player of the Year – Marques Ackerman
CSA One Day Cup Player of the Year – Jason Smith
CSA T20 Challenge Player of the Year – Okuhle Cele
Player of the Year – Okuhle Cele
Players’ Player of the Year – Okuhle Cele
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies awards:
CSA T20 Challenge
Batter of the Tournament – Alex Candler
Bowler of the Tournament – Jade De Figueiredo
CSA One Day Cup
Batter of the Year – Alex Candler
Bowler of the Year – Nonkululeko Mlaba
Fielder of the Year – Nondumiso Shangase
Impact Player of the Year – Zintle Mali
Players’ Player of the Year – Alex Candler
Player of the Year – Alex Candler
Name of Author: Dolphins Cricket
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins represent KwaZulu-Natal (Coastal) in South Africa. They compete in the CSA 4-Day Series, Momentum One-Day Cup, and Mzansi Super League T20. Their home venues are Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban and Pietermaritzburg Oval in Pietermaritzburg.
