Celebrating Success - Irby CC's Awards Night

A fantastic gathering to celebrate the highs and lows of the 2023 cricket season.

Let's face it, we all miss it...

There is no doubt in my mind most cricketers UK based will be sorely missing the long summer days, spending time playing cricket out in the English countryside. The Irby lot I can safely say fit into that solemn category. A turbulent season overall but thoroughly enjoyed by most of its members. Irby have a lot to shout about, our Second, Third and Fourth XI finishing respectably high in their tables, cementing them well in the newly established league. It was unfortunate the demise of the First XI has sent the Second spiralling into Division One of the Southport League, but both sides aim for an impressive finish in 2024, gearing up for ultimate success, promotion.

The Awards

Let's get to the important bit, who won what? The list below details the results...
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First XI

• 1st XI Bowler of the Year - Smit Mehta
• 1st XI Batter of the Year - Smit Mehta
• 1st XI Players Player of the Year - Rafi Afridi
• 1st XI Captains Player of the Year - Rafi Afridi

Smit's undenaible skill with the ball and bat earned him this years awards, with excellent stats and a great all round perfomance he will sorely be missed heading into the 2024 season. Rafi joined us halfway through the season and from the get go showed strength and courage with the bat around what was a notoriously struggling batting lineup. Many match-winning performances were carried both with bat and ball from Rafi and for that he has earned both the Players and Captains award.

Second XI​

• 2nd XI Bowler of the Year - Thomas Jones
• 2nd XI Batter of the Year - Thomas Jones
• 2nd XI Players Player of the Year - Thomas Jones
• 2nd XI Captains Player of the Year - Thomas Jones

It was admittedly a bit of a landslide for TJ this year in the Second XI. Having resided in the 3rd team as a wicket keeper until June, TJ was called up to play in a match vs Alder CC when he shined with both bat and ball. It seems from that point onwards he became an asset to the side, wickets tumbled and runs flowed. TJ even led from the front, captaining the side for a few games mid-season whilst Skipper Wilkes was moved up to the First XI. Quite a year for the Wicket Keeper... I guess no more!

Third XI

• 3rd XI Bowler of the Year - Paul Smith
• 3rd XI Players Player of the Year - Steve Renshaw
• 3rd XI Captains Player of the Year - Paul Smith

​It goes without saying, Smithy had another fantastic and memorable year in the 3s with the ball. Farming wickets for fun it seems, he rocketed up the wicket taking table, with 11 wickets in the first twi games of the season. It was a fully deserved two awards for the spinning maestro. As for Steve Renshaw, who acted as a rock at the other end with the ball, seemingly frustrated that Smithy's grenades were taking so many at the other end while his fizzed past the stumps and the outside edge many a time. It was Steve that bowled often in great partnership with Smithy and the pair obtained great success as the season progressed. It ws then great performances with the bat for Steve which gave him a memorable all-round performance for the year that deservedly put him in contention for Players Player of the Year.

Fourth XI

• 4th XI Bowler of the Year - Mark Booth
• 4th XI Players Player of the Year - Rich Evans
• 4th XI Captains Player of the Year - Kian Bough
  

It was another great year for the 4th XI with some standout performances from the lads involved in 'Iron's Army' as it was coined.
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