Ayabaonga Khaka wins Presidential Award; Yolani Fourie adjudged Gauteng domestic player of the year

Ayabonga Khaka won the CGL Presidential Award for 2019-20, the Central Gauteng Lions announced in their show on YouTube and Facebook on Wednesday (May 27). She was also honoured for representing South Africa in the season on the tours to India, New Zealand and the T20 World Cup as well as being contracted for the upcoming season.



Khaka, who made a comeback from her knee injury against India last year, had last played in the T20 World Cup in 2016. She picked up four wickets in the tournament in 2020, including 3/25 in South Africa’s first win over England in T20 World Cups. She also dismissed Alyssa Healy in the semi-final.



Meanwhile, Yolani Fourie, who played a Test and 25 limited overs internationals for South Africa, was named the Senior Provincial Player of the Year. The off-spinner picked up 11 wickets in eight games in the CSA Provincial League Competition and four wickets in seven matches in the CSA Provincial T20 Competition. She was the joint third-highest run-getter in the 50-over tournament.



The Lions had 21 points in the competition and were third in the group. But the competition was eventually called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with North West being declared the winners. The Lions could win only two of the nine T20s, though.



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Kirstie Thomson was Lions’ leading run-scorer in both 50-over games as well as T20s. She made 177 in the longer format and 149 in the T20s. She was awarded Senior Provincial Team Batter of the Year.



The Senior Provincial Team Bowler of the Year was shared between Jameelah Shaikjee and Hloni Sardick. Shaikjee picked up nine wickets in the Provincial League – second-most for the Lions, while Sardick led their charts in T20s with seven scalps to her name.



“Tonight, was all about #BringingUpTheBest with our objective being to reflect, recognise and celebrate the excellent talent within the Union,” said Jono Leaf-Wright, CEO of the Central Gauteng Lions.



“Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to all the special role players within our entire Union from the bottom of my heart for all that you do for the game that is so very dear to us all. CGL will continue to win on the field and off it because of all the wonderful players, administrators, fans, sponsors and stakeholders involved.”