Malan outshines seniors at Cobras Awards

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Janneman Malan

Proteas T20I graduate Janneman Malan bagged three Cobras awards in his first season at the franchise on Friday evening.

The 23-year-old has been effective for his side across all formats, and to acknowledge his contributions, Malan received the Players’ Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year award and Cobras Player of the Year award.

‘It’s a very humbling experience and now I’m just more motivated for next season,’ said Malan.

‘We put a lot of work in pre-season and throughout the season. Unluckily we never won a trophy this season. All of us are motivated to win trophies next season, and the guy who wins the trophy next year will feel more fulfilled because obviously it’s kind of an empty feeling.

‘It’s a great feeling, however, to be acknowledged, but now we must work harder and we are all working towards next year.’

The Cobras finished second in the 4-Day Franchise Series and were knocked out of the One Day Cup and T20 Challenge semi-final.

Malan stood out, however, in all three tournaments.

Injuries hampered his 4-Day Franchise series campaign as he scored 564 runs in seven games at an average of 51.27 that included two half-centuries and two centuries with a high score of 168.

He was most impressive in the One Day Cup, finishing fourth on the scoring charts. He played 11 games and scored 435 runs at an average of 43.50. This included two centuries and a half-century, with a high score of 115.

In the T20 campaign, he finished fifth on the run-scorers charts. He racked up 235 runs at an average of 26.11, with one century being his high score of 103, one of only two tons recorded in the tournament.

Malan’s season for the Cape Town Blitz and Cape Cobras earned him a call-up to the Proteas’ T20 squad and he made his debut against Pakistan in the second T20 and scored 33. He played in the the third T20I, but only managed two.

Other winners on the night were: Dane Piedt (4-Day Franchise Player of the Year), Rory Kleinveldt (One-Day Cup Player of the Year) and Vernon Philander (T20 Challenge Player of the Year).

Photo: Supplied