YOUNG Buninyong all-rounder Joel Kitchen has won his second Bernie Davey Award in three seasons.
Kitchen topped a close count, reflective of tight competition in the Ballarat Cricket Association district division this season.
The 20-year-old was surprised to receive the best and fairest accolade at Bray Raceway last night.
“It’s always a humbling experience to win an award like this,” Kitchen said. “I’m still disappointed not to be playing in the grand final, we just missed out.
“I’d love to be able to swap this award to be playing for Buninyong this weekend.”
Kitchen got his first Bernie Davey medallion in 2008-09, the season Buninyong won the division one premiership.
This was Kitchen’s fifth season in the Buninyong firsts, having made his senior debut with the club at 15 years old.
He tallied 13 votes, polling seven votes and collecting two best on grounds.
Creswick Imperials’ veteran David Coxall, Dunnstown captain Paul Phillips and VRI Delacombe all-rounder Jeromy Johnston tied for runner-up on 11 votes.
Ballan duo Jarryd Graham and Michael Carr and Burrumbeet’s Wayne Martin each polled 10.
Kitchen impressed with bat and ball, sharing the competition’s bowling aggregate with Creswick Imperials’ Jeffrey Chalmers on 29 wickets apiece.
His batting performance of 323 at 29.36 ranked Kitchen second in the batting aggregate and fourth in the batting average.
“A lot of one-dayers made the competition all so even,” Kitchen said.
