PNG batsman Jason Kila claims Don Bradman Batting Award in Australia Country Cricket Championships

Papua New Guinean young left hand batsmen Jason Kila was named in the Australian Country Cricket XI and awarded the Don Bradman Batting Award following his outstanding batting performance in the Australian Country Cricket Championship for East Asia Pacific side in Bendigo Victoria.

The annual Australian Country Cricket Championships was played from the 5th to the 12th January in Bendigo, Victoria which included five state country cricket side in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and East Asia Pacific Select team. Six PNG players were also part of the EAP team in this year’s tournament. Each of the teams played each other in round robin matches including mixture of 50 over’s, T20’s and 2 day matches.

Jason Kila who was also the captain of the East Asia Pacific Team for the first time compiled a total of 196 runs in 4 matches at an average of 32.67 with a high score of 91 runs. The hard hitting left hand batsman completed the tournament as the highest run scorer and was awarded the prestigious Don Bradman Batting Award for the 2015 Country Cricket Championship. Jason became the second East Asia Pacific player to have won the Don Bradman award with fellow Papua New Guinean left hand batsman Assad Vala winning the award in 2011.

The quietly spoken Kila who hails from Hula village in the Central province was very happy that he was named in the best of the Country Cricket players at the completion of the tournament and was really humbled by being awarded the Don Bradman batting award.

“I want to thank my team mates for a fantastic effort in this year’s Championships as we had a fairly young side but we competed hard despite not winning any game. The players supported me really well and made my job easier and that allowed me to concentrate on my own game as well as a first time captain of EAP team. I thought I was the most senior member of my team and being a captain, I took the challenge upon myself to lead from the front and it actually worked out well for me,” said Kila.

Meanwhile, the 2015 Australian Country Cricket Championship concluded yesterday and Queensland Country team claimed the championship title after finishing on top of ladder. The EAP side finish at the bottom of the ladder in the six team competition.

Source: PNGFM