ALL THE WINNERS FROM AWARDS NIGHT 2024/25

7 Apr 2025

The Northern Districts (ND) Annual Awards evening was held at SkyCity in Kirikiriroa-Hamilton on Friday night, celebrating success and service to cricket across the region.

The annual awards are a chance to celebrate excellence at both the community, talent pathway and high-performance levels. Over 170 players, staff, board members, community award winners, Districts Association representatives and sponsors made this years’ celebration one to remember.

Having come so close to the Plunket Shield last summer, BJ Watling’s men were on a mission to make their stamp on first-class cricket this season and their perseverance was rewarded with the Shield taking pride of place on the awards stage throughout the evening.

It wasn’t just four-day cricket where ND performed well this season. 2024/25 was the first time that both the men’s and women’s teams made the T20 Super Smash elimination finals in the same year.

Jesse Prasad was a record-breaker this season. She took a hat-trick on her way to a 5-wicket bag in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield against the Central Hinds at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. The match ball was presented to her on Friday night.

Two new Life Members were inducted during the awards ceremony. Swashbuckling opening batter Katene Clarke played his 100th game for ND on 23 October 2024, and gifted all-rounder Nensi Patel played her 100th game for ND on 17 November 2024.

Tim Southee – already a Life Member in the ‘Immortal’ category – was elevated to ND’s highest level of Life Membership: ‘Phoenix’. The Phoenix Life Membership (referencing the phoenix on the ND crest) is awarded to retired players with 300+ caps for the BLACKCAPS or 150+ caps for the WHITE FERNS; or for exceptional contribution in administration or service to ND over several years.

Debuting for ND during the 2006/07 season, Southee was soon called up for international duties in March of 2008. Throughout his domestic career for ND, he has played 36 first-class, 15 List A, 55 T20 matches with best bowling figures of 8 for 27 and he had taken 10 five-wicket bags. A handy lower-order batter, his highest score in domestic cricket is 156.

He is New Zealand’s 31st Test Captain with one of the most distinguished careers in the history of the game. Southee’s international career was wrapped up in poetic fashion with a win at Seddon Park in this summer’s Test Series against England, having taken 776 international wickets, the most by any Kiwi bowler across all formats.

The other notable retirement – Neil Wagner – was also celebrated in style. Wagner stepped onto the domestic cricket stage for the final time in New Zealand last week at the same venue where it all began in 2008 – although this time he was wearing the maroon and gold baggy.

Wagner began his NZ domestic career playing for Otago before shifting to Northern Districts for the 2018/19 season. His ND career includes 26 First Class, 15 List A and 23 T20 matches, with best bowling of 6 for 114. He also took four 5-wicket bags, including a five-fer in the final round of the 2024/25 Plunket Shield where he was instrumental in clinching the championship.

Wagner played 64 Tests for New Zealand, taking 260 wickets at 27.57 with a strike rate of just 52.7. Only Sir Richard Hadlee has a better Test strike rate among New Zealand bowlers to have taken more than 100 wickets. His passion and endless energy have been a source of inspiration for young cricketers around the country.

The ultimate player awards are the Nicola Browne and Daniel Vettori Medals, presented to the male and female player of the year.

Brett Hampton was awarded the Daniel Vettori Medal for the second year running. He was the top run scorer of any of our players across all three formats, totalling 932 runs; and he also took the most wickets across the three formats: 41.

Jess Watkin took out the Nicola Browne Medal. Her all-round contribution with the bat and ball, in both the one-day and Super Smash competitions made her the standout candidate for this award. In total, she scored 437 runs and took 17 wickets. She also nabbed 10 catches, the most by any of our players, and made a massive contribution as captain.

Watkin was rewarded with selection in the NZ XI that played Sri Lanka in February and performed outstandingly in the two games, scoring 63 and 36, and taking three wickets in each game. At the end of the season, Watkin was then selected for the North Island team that played s three-match series vs the South Island. She was the pick of the players, with a match-winning 115 not out in Game Two and a three-wicket bag in the series as well, helping team North to clinch the series 2-1.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!