Man Of Steel Harvey Leads T20 MVP
The quarter-finalists in the Twenty20 Cup (T20) have been decided and unsurprisingly those teams provide eight out of the top 10 in the Twenty20 MVP. Ian Harvey, who has justified Northants's decision to bring him as a T20 specialist, has scored 258 runs at a strike rate of 1.39 and taken 12 wickets with an economy rate of 6.35. He has reached significant double-figure scores on seven out of nine occasions, all compiled at better than a run-a-ball. His best effort with the bat was 64 from 37 balls against Glamorgan. He also took 3-24 in that match although he recorded his best figures of 4-18 against Warwickshire. Harvey tops the T20 MVP and will hope to add to his points tally in the quarters when Northants entertain Hampshire at Wantage Road.
Leicestershire's Jim Allenby is ranked second in the T20 MVP having scored 432 runs and taken 4 wickets. He has recorded one of only two centuries in this year's Cup to date, 110 versus Nottinghamshire, a game in which he also took 3-25 earning him a match total of 47.54 points. That hundred came off just 58 balls and he has contributed double-figure scores at better than a run-a-ball in every match.
Jonathan Trott, the leading run-scorer in T20, is in third spot in the T20 MVP. He has racked up 469 runs at a strike rate of 1.36 and has contributed 33 or better in seven of his nine knocks, including three fifties. He will get the chance to add to his run tally when the Bears travel to Hove for the quarters.
Like Allenby, Jamie Dalrymple cannot add to his points tally in the 2009 T20 cup but that shouldn't obscure the tremendous season he is having. The Glamorgan captain is ranked second in the overall MVP behind Somerset's Craig Kieswetter and he has maintained form throughout the T20 with significant contributions to Glamorgan's cause. He lies fourth in the T20 MVP with 318 runs, including three fifties and 11 wickets.
Darren Stevens, who has won the Cup three times (twice with Leicester, once with Kent) is the leading run-scorer in the history of domestic T20. He has been a major force in this year's tournament often giving the Kent innings much-needed impetus in the latter stages. Stevens has scored 271 runs at a strike rate of 1.48 as well as having taken five wickets from 13 overs which have been taken for just 5.77 runs per over. Two of Stevens three fifties have been at a rate of better than two runs per ball. He is in fifth spot in the T20 MVP.
Michael Lumb set much of the early pace in this year's T20 MVP with his fearsome ball-striking, contributing three fifties and a mighty hundred against Essex from just 69 balls. Lumb is chasing Trott as the leading run-scorer with 416 runs to his name, a tally he will hope to add to in the quarters against Northants.
Sussex's Dwayne Smith is in seventh spot having scored 258 runs, taken eight wickets and completed three run outs and four catches. Smith, one of the most electrifying fielders in the game, has lit up Sussex's performances inspiring his team to produce some exemplary fielding displays including a five run out show versus Essex at Hove. Smith has made two scores in the 60s against Hampshire and Kent and taken 3-19 from his allocation against Essex at Chelmsford.
Zander de Bruyn has been one of Somerset's key men this season particularly in the shorter formats. The South African is ranked first in the FPT MVP and lies eighth in the T20 MVP courtesy of 336 runs, including three fifties, and four wickets. Somerset travel to Old Trafford for the quarters.
Sussex captain and former England one-day international all-rounder, Michael Yardy, has been instrumental in Sussex's progress to the knock-out stages of both the FPT and the T20 Cup. Yardy has used all his nous and experience to guide the Sharks home with the bat in tight situations, while his bowling has been a revelation. He has only scored 100 runs in the T20 but he has taken 12 wickets and gone for just 5.75 runs per over. He is in ninth spot in the T20 MVP.
Steven Croft is the highest ranked Lancashire player in tenth having scored 259 runs at a strike rate of 6.90 and taken four wickets. The Lightning, who won eight out their nine games will entertain a strong Somerset side in the quarters. Croft muscled his way into the top 10 after scoring 83 from just 47 balls against Notts at Trent Bridge in the last group game.
Three of the T20 MVP top ten are also in the overall MVP top ten: Dalrymple is second, De Bruyn in third and Yardy in sixth. Kieswetter heads the overall MVP having maintained his form throughout the T20 where he is currently ranked 12th. He made 84 off 42 balls in Somerset's thrilling win over Gloucestershire at Bristol, and 39 off 25 in their narrow defeat to the Bears. Across all three forms the Somerset keeper has scored 1114 runs, taken 26 catches and completed six stumpings.
Rankings Bulletins
MVP Goes Amateur!
Fans of the PCA's groundbreaking Most Valuable Player system will be delighted to hear that MVP is being rolled out to all amateur cricketers! That's right, clubs and schools around the world will now be able to sign up for the professional MVP treatment, thanks to a brand new web portal in a joint initiative between the ECB and PCA.
No more arguing about who is the best player on your team - the MVP formula, designed by the pros for the pros, delivers a cumulative points system that rewards every run scored, wicket taken and catch held. All your scorecard information will be processed to determine who is grinding out the match winning performances...and who is full of hot air. Please visit at http://www.mycricketmvp.com/ for all the details.
|
