Sport
23 March, 2023
Samit Gohil’s dominant year rewarded with Ken Gibbs Medal
Samit Gohil’s historic level of dominance in the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) was rewarded on Tuesday night when he was awarded the Ken Gibbs Medal. No matter which way you look at Gohil’s season for Laanecoorie Dunolly, the...
Samit Gohil’s historic level of dominance in the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) was rewarded on Tuesday night when he was awarded the Ken Gibbs Medal.
No matter which way you look at Gohil’s season for Laanecoorie Dunolly, the numbers tell an insane story of dominance — one which stamped his name in the history books, scoring 17 votes to win the medal.
From nine matches this season — with this weekend’s grand final still to come, Gohil scored 607 runs at an average of 121.4 to claim the A grade batting award, while also taking 20 wickets at an average of 9.5, finishing second in the competition. Then there’s the fielding numbers, where Gohil also excels, taking three catches and three runouts.
Indeed, it was a night of celebration for Laane, with reigning champion Ben Gunn finishing second in the count on 13 votes.
Gohil was also the recipient of The Maryborough Advertiser Cricketer of the Year award.
After such a dominant season, Gohil was humble in victory, and was grateful to Laane for giving him the opportunity to “prove himself” in Australia.
“It’s a great feeling that I contributed to my team. I can only thank Laanecoorie Dunolly for giving me the opportunity to prove myself in Australian conditions. It’s satisfying that I’ve been able to perform for them,” he said.
“Once I was on the field, I was only thinking about giving 110 percent, no matter whether it was when I was batting, bowling or fielding. I kept focusing on my game.”
Gohil’s best performances saw him score 128 and 104 against Clunes, 101 against Beaufort, and figures of 7/13 in the final round of the season against Colts Phelans.
With such a highlight reel, Gohil might be hard-pressed to pick his most satisfying game. But he insists that his performance at Clunes, with their best bowling line-up for the season, was the pick of his games for 2022/23.
“My best performance, I felt, was my 128 against Clunes. It was a crucial game for us — we had to win to stay on top. Clunes have some great bowlers, and we were playing away,” he said.
“It’s a good thing to face the best bowlers in the competition. [Clunes’] Ashley Gunn, for example, is a fantastic bowler and he bowls in good areas. It’s a good thing to face up to bowlers like him. That’s why I’m here, to face them and to keep watching the ball when I bat.”
Laane are now ready to make it four March premierships in succession this weekend when they play Colts Phelans at Princes Park, something which excites Gohil, but also one where he wants to see it as another game.
“It’s been great — we won the one-day grand final, and now we’re in the two-day grand final. I feel the same as I did in my first game — I just want to follow my best process with my focus. I have a clear mindset — I’m not treating it as a final, I’m treating it as if it’s another game,” he said.
Gohil said that with a well-balanced team, including A grade bowling champion Gunn, good batsmen in Tom Hannett and Matt Smith, and consistent bowlers like Joe Lovel, Zach Graham and Daniel Romeo, he has confidence in Laane’s ability to complete an undefeated season with victory over the weekend.
“We have a great, balanced team. Our players all have great ability. We have a good bowling lineup, good batsmen, and we feel we have every position covered in our starting eleven,” he said.
In A reserve, Talbot’s Jack Kenden took the title of best player after a consistent season which saw him in the top five in both batting and bowling across the competition during the home and away season, finishing with 373 runs at an average of 37.3 and 17 wickets at an average of 14.71.
Kenden, for the third year in succession, was also named as The Advertiser’s best A reserve player.
Batting and bowling awards went to Carisbrook’s Martin Mark, who has scored 530 runs from 13 matches, helping guide them to a grand final meeting with Colts Phelans tomorrow, while MKM’s Bradley Reeves won the bowling award for his 23 wickets at an average of 8.39.
Dave Forder was a first-time winner of the Jim ‘Kiwi’ Riley Umpire of the Year award, while Mark’s work with Carisbrook saw him awarded as Administrator of the Year.
The J.C Hunter Cup was awarded to Jasper Trickey from Maryborough, after scoring 189 runs at an average of 94.5 throughout the season, with Trickey taking the batting average with it, while Riley Govan took the bowling award thanks to his 13 wickets at an average of 6.62.
Country Week Player of the Week’s were also awarded, with Laane’s Thang Nguyen taking the under 13 player of the week, Beaufort’s Ben Grant winning the under 15 player of the week, and Laane’s Lovel taking under 17 player of the week.
The under 14 girls T20 Just for Girls team were celebrated after taking their first victory in the competition, with Tamika Loone-Grundy winning the batting award, while Carisbrook’s Arabella Koop took the bowling award. Colts Phelans’ Ella Govan was recognised as the best all-rounder.
To finish the night, the MDCA A grade Team of the Season was announced.
The team was announced in batting order, and was as follows; Sam Bartlett (Maryborough), Anthony Ellis (Clunes), Samit Gohil (Laanecoorie Dunolly, captain), Mitch McClure (Maryborough, vice captain), Ed Foreman (Colts Phelans), Ben Gunn (Laanecoorie Dunolly), Lachlan Oddie (Beaufort), Lachlan Morganti (Maryborough), Ashley Gunn (Clunes), Jude McGuire (Clunes, wicketkeeper), Ben Stubbings (Colts Phelans) and 12th man Harry Lumsden (Maryborough).
